s, spa pools, fountains, and air conditioning cooling towers. people usually get legionnaires' disease by breathing in mists that come from a water source contaminated with legionella bacteria.

　an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 people get legionnaires' disease in the united states each year. some people can be infected with legionella bacteria and have mild symptoms or no illness at all. patients with legionnaires' disease usually have fever, chills, and a cough, which may be dry or may produce sputum. some patients also have muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, and, occasionally, diarrhea. from the time of infection with legionella bacteria, it takes 2-10 days for symptoms to appear. in most cases, symptoms begin after 5-6 days. legionnaires' disease is treated with antibiotics, such as erythromycin. the earlier that trea