Q fever history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{CMG}} {{Q fever}} ==Overview== '''Q fever''' is caused by infection with ''Coxiella burnetii''. This organism is uncommon but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and o..." |
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
'''Q fever''' is caused by infection with ''[[Coxiella burnetii]]''. This organism is uncommon but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic mammals, including cats and dogs. | '''Q fever''' is caused by infection with ''[[Coxiella burnetii]]''. This organism is uncommon but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic mammals, including cats and dogs. | ||
==History and symptoms== | |||
Incubation period is usually 2 to 3 weeks. | |||
The most common manifestation is flu-like symptoms with abrupt onset of [[fever]], [[malaise]], profuse perspiration, severe [[headache]], [[myalgia]] (muscle pain), joint pain, loss of appetite, upper respiratory problems, dry cough, pleuritic pain, chills, confusion and gastro-intestinal [[symptoms]] such as [[nausea]], vomiting and [[diarrhea]]. The fever lasts approximately 7-14 days. | |||
During the course, the disease can progress to an atypical [[pneumonia]], which can result in a life threatening [[acute respiratory distress syndrome]] (ARDS), whereby such symptoms usually occur during the first 4-5 days of infection. | |||
Less often the Q fever causes (granulomatous) [[hepatitis]] which becomes symptomatic with malaise, fever, liver enlargement (hepatomegaly), pain in the right upper quadrant of the [[abdomen]] and [[jaundice]] (icterus). | |||
The chronic form of the Q fever is virtually identical with the [[inflammation]] of the inner lining of the heart ([[endocarditis]]), which can occur after months or decades following the infection. It is usually deadly if untreated. However, with appropriate treatment this lethality is around 10% | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 14:55, 2 February 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Q fever is caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii. This organism is uncommon but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic mammals, including cats and dogs.
History and symptoms
Incubation period is usually 2 to 3 weeks. The most common manifestation is flu-like symptoms with abrupt onset of fever, malaise, profuse perspiration, severe headache, myalgia (muscle pain), joint pain, loss of appetite, upper respiratory problems, dry cough, pleuritic pain, chills, confusion and gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The fever lasts approximately 7-14 days.
During the course, the disease can progress to an atypical pneumonia, which can result in a life threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), whereby such symptoms usually occur during the first 4-5 days of infection.
Less often the Q fever causes (granulomatous) hepatitis which becomes symptomatic with malaise, fever, liver enlargement (hepatomegaly), pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and jaundice (icterus).
The chronic form of the Q fever is virtually identical with the inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis), which can occur after months or decades following the infection. It is usually deadly if untreated. However, with appropriate treatment this lethality is around 10%