What is Q Fever?
Q Fever is a disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. It primarily affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats but can also infect humans. It is considered a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
How is Q Fever Transmitted?
Humans usually get Q fever by:
- Inhaling contaminated dust that contains dried birth fluids, urine, feces, or milk from infected animals
- Direct contact with infected animals or their products (especially during birthing)
- Rarely, through consumption of unpasteurized milk or dairy products
- Person-to-person transmission is extremely rare
Symptoms of Q Fever
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 3 weeks after exposure and can range from mild to severe:
- High fever (up to 40°C or 104°F)
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills and sweats
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes)
- In some cases, pneumonia or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) can occur.
Types of Q Fever
- Acute Q Fever: Sudden onset of flu-like symptoms, usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks.
- Chronic Q Fever: A more severe form that can develop months or years after initial infection. It can cause serious complications like endocarditis (infection of the heart valves).
Diagnosis
Q fever is diagnosed through:
- Blood tests detecting antibodies against Coxiella burnetii
- PCR tests to detect bacterial DNA
Treatment
- Most acute cases improve without treatment, but antibiotics like doxycycline are used to speed recovery and prevent complications.
- Chronic Q fever requires prolonged antibiotic treatment.
Prevention
- Avoid contact with animals giving birth or their products without proper protection.
- Use protective clothing and masks when working with livestock.
- Pasteurize milk and dairy products.
- Control measures in livestock farms to reduce infection rates.