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Legionnaires Disease Presenting as Diarrhea: A Case Report
Nimit Dalal1, Pal Satyajit Singh Athwal2, Biswaraj Tharu1
1Internal Medicine, Trumbull Regional Medical Center, Warren, USA.
Cureus
|October 28, 2020
Summary
Legionnaires disease typically affects the lungs, but this case highlights isolated diarrhea without respiratory symptoms. This presentation challenges diagnosis, emphasizing the need to consider Legionnaires disease even without typical pneumonia signs.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Legionnaires disease is an infectious pneumonia with potential systemic effects.
- Common risk factors include immunodeficiency, smoking, alcoholism, and COPD.
- Typical presentation involves respiratory symptoms.
Observation:
- A case of Legionnaires disease presented solely with diarrhea.
- The patient exhibited no respiratory symptoms throughout the illness.
- No known risk factors, recent travel, or sick contacts were identified.
Findings:
- Acute diarrhea can be an atypical manifestation of Legionnaires disease.
- Isolated gastrointestinal symptoms without pneumonia pose a diagnostic challenge.
- This case underscores the variability in Legionnaires disease presentation.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider Legionnaires disease in cases of isolated diarrhea.
- Prompt diagnosis is crucial for effective management of atypical Legionnaires disease.
- Awareness of non-pneumonic presentations can prevent diagnostic delays.
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