Ency. home > Disease > Q > Q fever - early

Q fever - early   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Definition:

An infectious disease acquired from animals, caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii.

Causes and Risks

Q fever is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. This organism primarily lives in domestic animals (cattle, sheep, and goats), cats, wild animals, and ticks.

Humans contract the disease after having contact with contaminated materials (materials that have been contaminated with the animal's feces, blood, placenta, etc.), after inhaling contaminated dust or droplets, or after ingestion of contaminated food or raw (unpasteurized) milk.

The incubation period is usually 2 to 3 weeks long. The disorder may range from no symptoms to moderately severe symptoms resembling influenza. If symptoms occur, they may last for several weeks.

Occupations that involve a risk for infection include slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians, researchers, food processors, and sheep and cattle workers. Men are more commonly infected than women, and most patients are between 30 and 70 years old.

This disorder is occasionally seen in children, especially those who live on a farm. It is usually found in children less than 3 years old during a work-up to discover the cause of pneumonia.

Ency. home > Disease > Q > Q fever - early

[an error occurred while processing this directive]