Legionnaires' disease

You can get Legionnaires' disease if you breathe in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria that cause the infection. It's usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals or offices where the bacteria have got into the water supply. It's less common to catch it at home. You can get Legionnaires' disease from things like: air conditioning systems humidifiers spa pools and hot tubs taps and showers that are not used often You cannot usually get it from: drinking water that contains the bacteria other people with the infection places like ponds, lakes and rivers

Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include: a cough shortness of breath chest pain or discomfort, particularly when breathing or coughing a high temperature flu-like symptoms

You may need to go into hospital if you're diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. Treatment in hospital may include: antibiotics given directly into a vein oxygen through a face mask or tubes in your nose a machine to help you breathe When you start to get better you might be able to take antibiotic tablets at home. Antibiotic treatment usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Most people make a full recovery, but it might take a few weeks to feel back to normal.