Diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease

How Is Legionnaires’ Disease Diagnosed?

Legionnaires’ Disease shares many similarities with other types of pneumonia and so in order to find out the specific cause your doctor is likely to use a range of different tests. These may include some or all of the following:

Sputum Tests

Sputum is the mixture of saliva and mucus which is coughed up from the respiratory tract when lungs are infected. By testing the sputum for any signs of the Legionella bacteria or its antigens (substances that stimulate the body to produce antibodies), doctors can identify if the bacteria are present and then make an informed judgment about how to treat it.

Urine Tests

Testing the urine of someone who has suspected Legionnaires’ Disease can help in identifying antigens from the bacteria, but also enables the doctor to get an idea of the state of a patient’s kidneys, as the disease can sometimes affect their ability to deal with the body’s waste products.

Blood Tests

Blood tests can help to illustrate the general health of a patient and also identify antibodies within the blood that are trying to fight off the infection. Not only that, but by monitoring the oxygenation of the blood, doctors can get an idea of how well the lungs are functioning and whether or not the patient will need mechanical assistance with breathing.

A Chest X-ray will not confirm whether the cause of the infection is the Legionella bacteria, but it will help to identify if the lung is infected, and if so, the extent of the infection.

CT Scan

A Computerised Tomography (CT) Scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles to create clear images of the inside of bones, blood vessels and soft tissues. This can help to identify the extent of lung damage, but also to investigate any neurological symptoms such as confusion, or having trouble concentrating.

While these clinical tests can confirm whether the illness is related to the specific bacteria, your doctor is also likely to ask you a series of questions about your general health, your recent activities, and whether or not you have recently spent time in a hospital, a hotel, a cruise ship, or other locations where the risk of contracting Legionnaires’ Disease is high, such as spa baths or holidays in warmer climates.

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your Legionnaires’ Disease claim – either by calling us free on 0800 122 3130, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choosing to discuss your situation. When you contact us you are under no obligation to continue with the case unless you wish to do so.

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