About this topic
Q fever is an infection caused by a germ. It can affect your lungs, liver, and heart. It can also affect other parts of your body. The germ most often lives inside the body of animals. Some of these are sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, camels, and birds. The germs are passed to humans from an animals milk, stool, or urine. They can also be passed through blood or body fluids. The fluids and materials present when an animal gives birth also have the germ. ‚
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What are the causes?
Coxiella burnetii is the germ that causes Q fever. You may get infected by: ‚
- Touching or coming in contact with infected animals
- Drinking milk not treated with heat (unpasteurized) of an infected animal
- Eating infected meat
- Breathing in infected air, dust, or hay
People can spread the infection to others too. This happens when: ‚
- You have sex and do not use a condom.
- A woman is pregnant and passes the germ to her baby.
What can make this more likely to happen?
You may be more at risk if you work on a farm or in a slaughterhouse. Veterinarians are also at a higher risk. So are people who work in labs that handle this germ. Some conditions may raise your risk for Q fever. Your risk may be higher if you have a poor immune system or are pregnant. Having heart or kidney disease or cancer related to your blood may also make you more likely to have this illness. ‚
What are the main signs?
You may start to show signs within 1 to 2 weeks. Most cases are mild. Some people have very bad cases. Signs may include: ‚
- Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher and chills
- Headache
- Breathing problems like dry cough or feeling short of breath
- Belly problems like throwing up, loose stools, or belly pain
- Joint and muscle pain
- Chest pain
- Night sweats
- Light-colored or white stool
- Skin, whites of the eyes, inside the mouth turns yellow. This is jaundice.
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will ask about your health history. The doctor may: ‚
- Use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs
- Tap your chest and back to check for odd sounds in your lungs
- Tap your belly and check for enlarged liver and spleen
- Look for skin rashes
The doctor may order: ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Some people do not need any treatment at all. Others may need drugs to help them get well. The doctor may also give you drugs to ease your other signs. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Lower fever
- Help with headaches
- Ease muscle and joint pain
- Treat dry cough
- Treat infection
What problems could happen?
- If you are pregnant, your baby may be small or born too early. You may also have a miscarriage or stillbirth.
- Lung infection
- Liver problems
- Brain infection
- Heart problems
- Q fever does not get better
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Avoid eating or drinking unpasteurized milk and dairy products.
- Avoid contact with animal blood, stools, or urine.
- If you have a skin wound, protect it with a waterproof bandage.
- If you work with animals:
- Get tested often. Also, test the animals for Q fever.
- Make sure that you throw away animal birth products, stool, or other wastes the right way.
- Follow proper ways to bag, disinfect, and wash work clothes and tools that touch animals.
- If you are pregnant:
- Avoid contact with animals.
- Do not handle clothes, boots, or tools used for animal care.
- Take extra care with farm animals if you have heart, liver, or kidney problems.
- Ask your doctor if vaccines are available.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/qfever/index.html ‚
National Organization for Rare Disorders ‚
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/621/viewAbstract ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Q-Fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚