Treatment:

The main treatment for Q fever is with antibiotics. For early-stage (acute) Q fever, doxycycline is the recommended antibiotic.

For chronic Q fever, a combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine is often used. You may need to take antibiotics for several months.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook for people who get treated in the early stages of Q fever is generally good.

Chronic Q fever requires long-term treatment with antibiotics. Your health care provider should check you often to make sure the disease has not returned.

Complications:

• Cirrhosis, hepatitis, and other liver problems
• Encephalitis
• Infection of the heart valves (endocarditis)
• Inflammation of the heart lining (pericarditis)
• Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• Lung scarring (interstitial pulmonary fibrosis)
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia

Calling your health care provider:

Notify your medical provider if you have symptoms of Q fever, especially if you believe you have been exposed to the bacteria. Although many different illnesses can cause similar symptoms, you may need to be evaluated for Q fever.