• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Q fever

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Q fever is an infection caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii , which can affect the lungs, liver, heart, and other parts of the body.

Alternative Names:

Query fever

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Q fever is found around the world and is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii . The bacteria affects sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and ticks , as well as some other animals. Infected animals shed this bacteria in urine, feces, birth products, and milk.

Humans usually acquire Q fever by inhaling contaminated droplets excreted by infected animals. Consumption of raw milk has also been associated with infection in rare cases. People at highest risk for this infection are veterinarians, farmers, sheep and dairy workers, as well as laboratory workers who work with this organism.

The incubation period (time from exposure to the development of symptoms) for early (acute) Q fever is approximately 20 days. In acute Q fever, the three main sets of symptoms include flu-like syndrome, pneumonia, and hepatitis. Flu-like syndrome usually goes away on its own, lasts up to 3 weeks, and may involve high fevers, headaches, and muscle aches.

Pneumonia can occur in up to a third of individuals. Most cases are relatively mild and include fever and cough, yet some severe cases have been reported. Hepatitis is another common outcome of Q fever. Other less common features of acute Q fever include rashes, meningitis , myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of heart lining).

Chronic Q fever develops in individuals who have been infected for over 6 months without effective treatment. Its main sign is infection of the heart valves termed endocarditis .Other less common features of chronic Q fever are cirrhosis and lung scarring (interstitial pulmonary fibrosis).

Individuals at highest risk include those with underlying heart valve problems, as well as people with weakened immune systems.

• Review Date: 9/25/2006
• Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.