Re: Legionnaire's Disease
Hello Paulette,
I am sorry to hear that your husband had to fight Legionella pneumophila.
It is a "common" infection here in Norway, where there are many water heaters, and many cooling towers. Almost every year, there is an outbreak, usually linked to one specific tower and one specific strain. People infected were people walking not far away from that tower.
The bacteria develops in any standing hot water, like cooling towers and water heaters where water temperature is hot and more or less constant.
Other places where bacteria grows best: hot tubs, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings. The bacteria are NOT spread from one person to another person. Most people exposed to the bacteria do not become ill. There are many genetic strains of this bacteria, and most people are immune to accidental contact with bacteria. Bacteria is present in almost every environment, and it is hot water that enables bacteria to reproduce into large number, large enough to overcome human immunity.
People who contract the Legionnaire's Disease are those who inhaled huge number of bacteria and in the same time their immunity is very low. Like older people (usually 65 years of age or older), smokers, or those who have a chronic lung disease (like emphysema). Also people who have weak immune systems from diseases like cancer, diabetes, or kidney failure are also more likely to get sick from Legionella bacteria. People who take drugs to suppress (weaken) the immune system (like after a transplant operation or chemotherapy) are also at higher risk.
After an incubation period of 2-10 days, patients typically develop symptoms like: Weakness, Fatigue, Malaise ,Myalgia ,Fever ,Chills. Respiratory symptoms may not be present initially but develop as the disease progresses. Almost all patients develop a cough, which is initially dry and nonproductive, but may become productive. Patients may experience chest pain. Neurologic and GI tract symptoms are usually prominent. Neurologic complaints may include: Headache,
Lethargy, Confusion, Cerebellar ataxia, Agitation, Stupor. Common GI tract symptoms include diarrhea (watery and nonbloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
The best known treatment are
Antibiotics capable of achieving high intracellular concentrations. I know of no alternative therapy that would be recommended. If untreated, people can die. Often used
Antibiotics are: clarithromycin, azithromycin, tetracyclines, .....
Legionella pneumophila can be very dangerous, when it takes hold inside human body. The main problem is that people are often diagnosed too late, when infection overtakes lungs. There are so many different illness with similar symptoms. Legionella can cause death in up to 5% to 30% of cases. Most cases can be treated successfully with
Antibiotics , and over 95% of infected people survives infection if treatment is started early enough.
Don't even think about an alternative therapy, before his life is out of danger and he is out of the hospital. What doctors can offer is the best known treatment. Playing games with anything else can cost life. Most herbs and most other natural antibiotics are unable to achieve high intracellular concentrations, making them totally useless against legionella. The best natural
Antibiotic that I know of is Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrosept Brand). I have tried many other brands and they are 100 times weaker then Citrosept. But, if you compare Citrosept to clarithromycin, azithromycin, it is most likely 10 - 50 times less effective against bacteria, while it can be extremely effective against yeast.
Olive leaf extract is too weak for this bacteria. Common food antibiotics like coconut, garlic, onion, cayenne, ginger ... I believe are too weak.
Keep us informed.
best of health
Spirit
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