Disease, Legionnaire
Disease, Legionnaire: A disease due to the bacteria Legionella pneumophila found in plumbing, shower heads, water-storage tanks and air cooling systems. Outbreaks of Legionella pneumonia have been attributed to evaporative condensers and cooling towers. The bacteria thrives in the mist sprayed from air-conditioning ducts and so it can infest an entire building or airplane. Travelers are especially vulnerable in the closed space within a plane.
Legionnaire disease can cause a massive pneumonia associated with collapse of the respiratory function. It can be an overwhelming and sometimes fatal illness.
The disease was first identified as a sequel of the 1976 convention of the American Legion in some of those who had attended the convention. It was therefore named Legionnaire disease.
Read Also:
- Disease, lipid storage
Disease, lipid storage: A series of disorders due to inborn errors in lipid metabolism resulting in the abnormal accumulation of lipids in the wrong places (Examples include Gaucher, Fabry and Niemann-Pick diseases and metachromatic leukodystrophy).
- Disease, Lobstein's
Disease, Lobstein’s: Osteogenesis imperfecta type I. An inherited, generalized connective tissue disorder featuring bone fragility and blue sclerae (blue whites of the eyes). The classic mild form of “brittle bone disease.” It is a dominant trait with males and females affected. One copy of the mutant gene is sufficient to cause the disease. Clinically it […]
- Disease, Lou Gehrig
Disease, Lou Gehrig: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This stimulation is necessary for the movement of body parts. LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is quite a […]
- Disease, manic-depressive
Disease, manic-depressive: See Manic depression. The antiquated term for bipolar disorder.
- Disease, maple syrup urine
Disease, maple syrup urine: Hereditary disease due to deficiency of an enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism, characterized by urine that smells like maple syrup. The three branched-chain amino acids: (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) cannot be metabolized (processed) and build up in the blood to the detriment of brain function. Untreated maple syrup urine disease […]