Bacteria found in shower heads can cause potentially fatal pneumonia

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Inhalation of certain germs, namely Legionella bacteria, is thought to be a way to transmit the potentially fatal pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. Every tenth person who gets this disease dies because of the disease.

Legionella bacteria, which cause potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease, usually accumulate in showers or drains that are not used regularly. The bacteria specialize in infecting human immune cells, such as macrophages, which are responsible for killing foreign invaders.

When people turn on the shower or faucet, water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria spread through splashes that form as small droplets , known as aerosols.

“People breathe these aerosols into the lungs through aspiration because they are small enough to be inhaled,” the company explains. The lungs then become infected with Legionella bacteria and the person becomes infected with Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever. Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, and everyone is susceptible to infection,” says therapist Iryna Andreeva.

Nevertheless, those who are particularly prone to severe pneumonia include smokers who smoke heavily. people who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases, diabetics and all persons over the age of 45.

“For those who contract Legionnaires' disease while in a medical facility, about one in four die. Outside medical institutions – every tenth. On the other hand, Pontiac fever, which is also caused by legionella bacteria, can cause fever, headache, and muscle aches.”

If left untreated, the infection can become more severe within the first week, and infected people may experience additional symptoms such as coughing up green sputum and shortness of breath.