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Overview
What Is Q Fever?
Q fever is an infection caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. People can become infected after exposure to infected cattle, sheep, goats, or materials contaminated by these animals, especially dust or birth products. Q fever in humans may cause a short-term illness called acute Q fever or a persistent infection that affects the body over a longer period.
Symptoms
Q Fever Symptoms
Some people with Q fever have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may begin several weeks after exposure and can resemble the flu or another infection.
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Muscle aches
- Chills or sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the legs
How It Spreads
How Q Fever Spreads
People most often get Q fever by breathing in dust or droplets contaminated with material from infected cattle, sheep, or goats. The risk is especially high around animal births or miscarriages because birth products can contain large amounts of Coxiella burnetii.
- Working on farms or in livestock facilities
- Working in slaughterhouses or meat-processing settings
- Providing veterinary care
- Assisting with animal births
- Handling contaminated clothing or equipment
- Working in areas with contaminated animal dust
- Eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy products
- Person-to-person spread, which is uncommon
Risk Factors
Q Fever Risk Factors
Who Has a Higher Risk of Q Fever?
- Working with cattle, sheep, goats, or other livestock
- Providing veterinary or animal-health care
- Helping with animal births or miscarriages
- Working in a laboratory that handles Coxiella burnetii
- Hunting or handling wild animals
- Living or working near farms or livestock facilities
- Pregnancy
- Heart-valve disease
- A vascular graft
- A weakened immune system
- A previous Q fever infection or history of persistent infection
Complications
Q Fever Complications
- Endocarditis, or inflammation of the heart lining and valves
- Inflammation of blood vessels
- Hepatitis, or liver inflammation
- Pneumonia
- Bone or joint infection
- Pregnancy complications
- Long-lasting fatigue
PERSISTENT INFECTION
Some complications develop later
Persistent Q fever can develop months or years after the initial infection, particularly in people with heart-valve disease, vascular grafts, pregnancy, or weakened immunity. These people need medical follow-up even if the first illness seemed to improve.
Diagnosis
How Q Fever Is Diagnosed
Clinicians consider a person’s symptoms and ask about contact with livestock, animal birth products, farms, or occupational environments. Blood tests measure antibodies to Coxiella burnetii, but early testing can be negative. Paired blood samples or repeat testing may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Testing for Persistent Q Fever
Treatment & Management
Q Fever Treatment and Management
Clinicians commonly treat acute Q fever with the antibiotic doxycycline. Treatment works best when started promptly, but antibiotics should not be self-started because the diagnosis, medication choice, and safety considerations require medical review.
Managing Persistent Q Fever
TREATMENT SAFETY
Use antibiotics only with medical guidance
Persistent Q fever may require prolonged combination antibiotic treatment guided by an infectious-disease specialist. The treatment plan and monitoring depend on the affected organ and laboratory response. Doxycycline is not appropriate for everyone, so mention pregnancy, heart-valve disease, a vascular graft, or immune suppression before treatment is selected.
Prevention
Q Fever Prevention
- Avoid contact with animal birth products and materials from miscarriages
- Wear gloves and respiratory protection when exposure cannot be avoided
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling animals or contaminated materials
- Keep work clothing separate from household laundry
- Control dust in livestock and birthing areas
- Do not consume unpasteurized milk or dairy products
- Follow veterinary or animal-health guidance for controlling infection in herds
Outlook and Prognosis
Q Fever Outlook and Prognosis
Many people recover from acute Q fever with appropriate treatment, although fatigue may continue for weeks or longer. Some people have no symptoms at all. Ongoing symptoms should be discussed with a clinician rather than assumed to be part of a normal recovery.
When Should You See a Doctor
When Should You See a Doctor for Q Fever?
URGENT SYMPTOMS
Seek immediate care for severe symptoms
Get urgent or emergency care for trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, new swelling in the legs, or other signs of serious heart, lung, or vascular complications.
Branches
1 topic
Q Fever
Infectious Diseases
Symptoms
3 topics
Q Fever
Chills
Q Fever
Fever
Q Fever
Night Sweats
Body System & Organ
1 topic
Q Fever
Liver
