Legionella Germs Warning: Using Cool Air Conditioner

Legionella is caused by an infectious disease that causes a sudden increase in the number of patients in June and August. Legionella can live anywhere with water, and it lives in a cooling tower water, an air conditioner, a shower, a faucet, a humidifier, a fountain, a bath, and a steam room. Legionella hides in various places and spreads in the form of droplets in the air.

Legionella infection is divided into 'flu' and 'pneumonia'. The flu type appears in people without underlying disease. Mild symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, myalgia, dry cough, runny nose, etc., only occur, and 2 to 5 days are better without any treatment.

■ Chronic illnesses · Smokers may have fatal complications

Pneumonia mainly affects chronic lung disease, smoker, and immune modifier. After 24 hours, fever and inflammation of the lungs lead to coughing and difficulty in breathing. Often pneumonitis can cause serious complications such as myocarditis, epicarditis, sinusitis, bronchitis, peritonitis, pyelonephritis.

Caution is necessary because Legionella is infected by anyone. In particular, patients with chronic lung disease, smokers, diabetic patients, renal insufficiency patients, and immunosuppression are dangerous. Pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics for about 14 days and immunocompromised persons may need to be treated for longer. Fortunately, there is no human-to-human transmission.

"In the early stages of Legionella, there are no special symptoms that can distinguish it from other diseases," said Professor Kim Yang-hyeon, an anam Hospital, Anam Hospital. "If you use air conditioners in summer, Good, "he explained. "People in the same room, particularly if they have symptoms such as dry cough, fatigue, and fever, should check to see if they are Legionella."

■ Air conditioning filter / cooler should be disinfected regularly

In order to prevent Legionella, it is better to disinfect the air conditioner and cooler regularly. The number of cooling towers and hot and cold water facilities in buildings are well managed, but in some cases Legionella is found. Legionella bacteria above the reference level are found, and the places where measures are needed are reported every year.

At home, it is a good idea to clean the air conditioner filter once every two weeks and ventilate frequently, such as opening the windows every 3 to 4 hours a day. It is also important to supply fresh air to the room and maintain adequate humidity.

Professor Kim Yang-hyeon said, "The car that air conditioning management is easy to neglect should be careful," he said, "because the car is closed because it is a narrow space, so it is more vulnerable to Legionellosis." "It is desirable to prevent bacteria and fungi from growing through regular filter replacement and indoor cleaning."