Brazil's Pele improving, still in intensive care – hospital

SAO PAULO - Brazilian soccer great Pele "is in better condition" though he remains in an intensive care unit being treated for a urinary tract infection, the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo said on Friday.

Pele, 74, is receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood, after surgery to remove kidney stones earlier this month. He is not on vasoactive drugs or other supportive therapies, the hospital said.

Pele, often called the greatest soccer player in history, has suffered a long list of health problems in the past decade, including emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and a hip replacement.

His manager, Paul Kemsley, said on Thursday he was expected to make a full recovery and that reports of his condition are being "greatly exaggerated."

Known as "the King of soccer" in Brazil, Pele played in four World Cups and helped Brazil win the global tournament three times, the last in Mexico in 1970. — Reuters

Legionnaires disease is a severe pneumonia

Legionnaires disease is a severe pneumonia. Pontiac fever is a mild, non-pneumonia influenza-like illness.

Most people who are exposed to the Legionella bacteria do not become ill. Middle-aged and older people are more susceptible to this disease. The disease has also been reported in children although less severe. Smokers and persons with chest problems are more commonly affected.

Legionnaire’s disease symptoms are headaches, temperature growth, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, fever, muscle pain, vomiting and having a problem in breathing.

Treatment with antibiotics is the cornerstone of treatment, erythromycin is the first choice of medication drugs. In addition to erythromycin, critically ill patients could receive rifampicin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat tuberculosis. Medications can be managed intravenously initially, then orally once the patient's condition become better, Treatment generally lasts for 3 weeks or even more and all prescription drugs must be taken, even if symptoms disappear. Critically, patients may be hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU), where oxygen can be managed and vital signs can be monitored regularly.  These precautions helps to stop or avoid complications such as heart failure, kidney failure, and change of  heartbeat irregularity.