Abstract

PAIXAO, Filipa Maria; VINGA, Inês  and  ROGADO, Rita. Report of a case of persistent fatigue at two years after Legionella pneumophila pneumonia. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2019, vol.35, n.3, pp.223-231. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v35i3.11972.

Introduction: Legionnaire's disease (LD) is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella spp. Transmission is generally airborne by inhalation of aerosolized particles. Adults older than 50 years of age, smokers, patients with chronic illness and with immunodeficiency, are more prone to infection. Although early detection and antibiotherapy usually lead to a cure, sequelae may remain. Case description: We present an improved but unresolved case of persistent fatigue during 24 months, in a 47-year-old woman infected after a two-hour stay in the 2014 Vila Franca de Xira outbreak area. The patient had as a sole risk factor: active and passive smoking. A course of 13 days of levofloxacin 500mg/day was started 48 hours after symptoms begin. Improvement of LD clinical symptoms along with laboratory tests results allowed hospital discharge on the fifth day. Comment: This case, while raising questions concerning risk factors and individual susceptibility to residual LD symptoms, draws attention to the possibility that persistent fatigue may occur even after non-severe LD and may thus contribute to the eventual improvement of the medical follow-up of patients after the resolution of the LD. Given the characteristics of the general and family medicine (FGM) discipline, family physicians play a crucial role in monitoring and supporting patients with residual LD symptoms and in promoting healthy habits and lifestyles that can confer well-being and mitigate their impact.

Keywords : Legionnaires' disease; Legionella pneumophila; Risk factor; Tobacco use; Chronic fatigue.

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