title: Legionnaires' disease associated with macular rash: two cases.
abstract: Legionnaires' disease is an acute bacterial infection, generally sustained by Legionella pneumophila, which involves primarily the lower respiratory tract, although it is often associated with multi-systemic extrapulmonary manifestations. Afflicted patients may sometimes have gastrointestinal symptoms, liver function abnormalities, renal failure or central nervous system complications, while cutaneous manifestations are very uncommon and may include erythematous, maculopapular or petechial skin lesions. Pathogenesis of skin involvement in the setting of Legionnaires' disease is still uncertain, but may involve toxic or immunological mechanisms. Two exceptional cases of Legionella pneumonia complicated by diffuse, macular rash in two adult women are described, in association with severe peripheral polyneuropathy and flaccid quadriplegia in one case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum, S. Orsola Hospital, Italy. calza@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calza
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casolari
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiodo
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zauli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005076:Exanthema / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged