Why Legionella Makes Water Unhealthy

Water is very important. It gives life to all living things. Survival rules say that you can last for three weeks without food but only three days without drinking or taking in water. That is why when outdoor enthusiasts, backpackers, and campers go on an adventure trip, one of the most important things they bring are food and a camping water filter.

Clean water means healthy body. The presence of some specific microbodies affects the body of the person. The very common effect is disease. People who drink bad water, i.e., dirty water or contaminated water, acquire water-borne diseases, of which there are many. Legionella is one such microbial contaminant.

Legionella is a bacterium that caused the outbreak in 1976 where 29 people who attended the Legionnaire’s convention in Philadelphia died. This microorganism lives in standing or stagnant water sources like ponds, wells, etc. The scientific name of Legionella is Legionella pneumophila and it causes a respiratory infection called Pontiac fever. It is also responsible for Legionnaire’s disease.

Legionella can be acquired not just by drinking contaminated by water but also by spreading as an aerosol. This means that the bacteria are contained in small water droplets we do not see. It can also get into your body through skin contact.

Pontiac fever like a mild flu illness, thought it is not flu exactly. This is caused by legionella bacteria. Symptoms of this illness include fever, headache, and muscle aches. This fever however, different from Legionnaires’ disease, does not cause or develop into pneumonia. Without treatment, the patient will be okay within two to three days.

Legionnaires’ disease is another affliction caused by Legionella. It is an acute respiratory infection whose symptoms include the following: pain in the chest, blood present during coughing, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain, feeling of discomfort or uneasiness, headache, pain in the joints, poor body coordination, lowering of energy in the body, stiffness and pain in the muscles, chills, and difficulty in breathing or gasping for air.

Because of Pontiac fever and Legionnaire's disease, Legionalla is dangerous to the body. These can kill people and rob them off their lives if left untreated. Thus, it is always a healthy idea to drink only bacteria-free water by using a water filtration treatment at home or a camping water filter when outdoors.

By: Benedict Carl Delgado

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Benedict Carl Delgado loves trekking, hiking, backpacking, camping, and anything that brings him outdoors. He maintains an informative site on camping water filter systems. Visit Benedict's site to read more about how obtain clean and safe drinking water when camping or to buy a reliable and portable camping water purifier.