A Connecticut man contracted a rare and fatal lung disease after smoking a cannabis pipe with water from a garden hose.
The unnamed patient, 25, who suffered from a ‘cracking’ sound in his lungs, sought medical help after four days of a ‘forceful’ cough, confusion, vomiting and back pain.
Urinalysis showed that the man suffered from Legionnaires’ disease, a bacterial infection that leads to lung damage and severe pneumonia.
The man, who was addicted to cannabis and alcohol, also suffered from sepsis, an overreaction of the immune system that kills one American every 90 seconds.
His story, documented by doctors, comes shortly after the Drug Enforcement Administration announced it would downgrade marijuana to a Schedule III drug, classifying it as “less harmful” than previously thought.
An unnamed man in Connecticut, 25, contracted Legionnaires’ disease after inhaling fumes while using a cannabis pipe with water from a garden hose
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, which is found in freshwater environments, showerheads, hot tubs, hot water tanks and large plumbing systems.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella, which is found in freshwater environments such as lakes and streams.
However, it can also grow in man-made water systems such as shower heads and faucets, hot tubs, decorative fountains, hot water tanks and heaters, and large plumbing systems that are not cleaned often enough, leaving them exposed to bacteria.
According to the CDC, water containing Legionella can aerosolize or turn into droplets that people inhale. And while it is less common, people can also drink water containing the bacteria, similar to the case study patient.
The doctors noticed that the man was delirious and uncooperative. He also suffered from a high heart rate and high blood pressure, as well as elevated white blood cell counts.
In addition, the patient suffered from emphysema, which damages the air sacs of the lungs called alveoli.
The doctors treating him believe he contracted Legionnaires’ disease and blood poisoning from inhaling fumes while using a cannabis pipe with water from a garden hose.
The CDC reports that most people exposed to Legionella do not become ill, but some groups are more at risk for illness than others.
The agency estimates that 8,000 to 10,000 cases are reported annually in the U.S., although the actual number is likely higher because many cases go undiagnosed. About 15 out of 100 people who get the infection are expected to die.
The most vulnerable include people over the age of 50, current or former smokers, people with chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, and people with underlying diseases such as diabetes or organ failure.
The patient was discharged after six days and underwent a two-week course of antibiotics.
The case was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.