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Q Fever

What is Q Fever?

  • Q fever is a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii.
  • It primarily infects animals like cattle, sheep, and goats and spreads to humans.
  • Humans usually get infected by inhaling contaminated dust from animal fluids (urine, feces, milk, birth products).

Symptoms of Q Fever

  • Fever, chills
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Cough, chest pain
  • Nausea, diarrhea

Complications of Q Fever

  • Pneumonia
  • Hepatitis
  • Neurological involvement (rare)

Diagnosis of Q Fever

  • Blood tests (antibody detection, PCR)
  • Diagnosis can be difficult due to non-specific symptoms.

Treatment of Q Fever

  • First-line: Doxycycline for ~14 days
  • Chronic cases require: Long-term antibiotics (≥18 months)
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