See Also: Fever, Pontiac(health)
Pontiac fever(dictionary)
Pontiac(encyclopedia)
Pontiac(dictionary)
Pontiac Cafe(tourism)
CHIEF PONTIAC Credit Union(finance)
ST. JOSEPH MERCY HOSPITAL PONTIAC Credit Union(finance)
Hegg Memorial Health Center Avera Health(health)
Divine Providence Health Center Avera Health(health)
Dells Area Health Center Avera Health(health)

Fever, Pontiac (health)


A flu-like illness caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila contracted by breathing mist that comes from a water source (such as air conditioning cooling towers, whirlpool spas, showers) contaminated with the bacteria. The incubation period is short, from a few hours to 2 days, before the onset of fever and muscle aches. Persons with Pontiac fever do not have pneumonia. They generally recover in 2 to 5 days without treatment. Pontiac fever is so-named because of an outbreak in 1968 in Pontiac, Michigan. It is a milder form of legionellosis than Legionnaire disease which is caused by the same bacterium.