title: Clinical Case of the Month: A 64 Year-Old Woman Presenting With Fever, Confusion, Ophthalmoplegia and Pneumonia.
abstract: Legionella pneumophila is a major cause of atypical community-acquired pneumonia, which is commonly severe enough to require hospitalization. Though primarily a respiratory infection, Legionellosis involves the central nervous system (CNS) in up to 50% of patients, and diagnosis can be obscured by the absence of obvious respiratory symptomatology. A reversible diffuse encephalopathy is the most common neurologic complication, but focal CNS involvement can sometimes be the initial presentation. We report a case of a woman infected with Legionella pneumophila presenting with vague symptomatology and focal neurologic findings. This report highlights the challenges of early recognition of Legionella infection when neurologic symptoms predominate.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.
authors: Daniel H
authors: DH
authors: Johnson
authors: Department of Internal Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Modica
authors: Department of Medicine at the Louisiana State Univeristy Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Coleman
authors: Department of Internal Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.
authors: Charles V
authors: CV
authors: Sanders
authors: Department of Internal Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA.
authors: Fred A
authors: FA
authors: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007876:Legionellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents