This bacteria lives in your air conditioner and causes a dangerous disease

The heat wave in Mexico and high temperatures are causing great havoc in almost the entire country, not only at the health level but also in the light consumption, Well, the use of fan and air conditioning has become indispensable.

Although these devices help keep homes and offices cool, few are aware of the risk they can pose due to the presence of a bacteriawhich can trigger severe respiratory infections and endanger health.

It is understood that when air enters the nasal passages, it gradually adjusts to body temperature before reaching the bronchi. However, if the air conditioning is too cold, the body does not have enough time to adapt, which can cause problems.

How to identify the bacteria in the air conditioner?

Legionella pneumophila is the name of the gram-negative bacteria responsible for causing legionnaires’ disease and the Pontiac fever.

This bacteria is commonly found in freshwater environments such as lakes and rivers, but also inhabits artificial water systems, such as cooling towers, hot water tanks, plumbing and air conditioning systems.

Its spread is rare, you can get infected al inhaling tiny droplets of water containing the bacteriaa process that can occur in ventilation systems of large buildings.

What is Legionnaires’ disease?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumoniaa lung inflammation commonly caused by infection. Most people contract this disease by inhaling the bacteria mentioned above, which is present in water or soil.

Los older adults, smokers and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable. Symptoms include:

• Headache
• Muscle pains
• High fever
• Coughing up mucus and sometimes blood
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

According to the same source, a less severe form of the diseaseknown as Pontiac fevermanifests itself with fever, chills, headache and muscle aches. Unlike Legionnaires’ disease, Pontiac fever does not affect the lungs and its symptoms usually disappear in two to five days.

How to prevent your air conditioner from having this bacteria?

Air conditioning offers numerous advantages during the summer if used correctly. Here are some of them: Key recommendations to avoid this bacteria along with Legionnaires’ disease

• Clean los water tanks and filters air conditioning regularly. Dirty filters increase electrical consumption by forcing fans to work harder, and can also cause bacteria and fungus to build up.
• Place the appliances in suitable locations to prevent the air flow from directly hitting people. It is recommended to orient the outlet grilles upwards to achieve a more uniform distribution of air and avoid direct currents.
• Maintaining indoor air quality through adequate ventilation.
• Adjust the air conditioning temperature in between 23 and 25 degrees Celsius, with a relative humidity greater than 35%.
• Perform technical reviews of the equipment’s condition with the help of an expert at the beginning of each season to ensure optimal operation.

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