Fever Q: Do You Know What It Is?
Q fever is the name given to a type of bacterial infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans. It was identified for the first time in 1935 and owes this name to the initial difficulty in understanding its nature. The letter Q comes from the word “query”, in English “question”, therefore “disease under investigation”.
The research identified Coxiella burnetii as the causative agent of fever, a bacterium found in farm animals such as cows, goats, sheep and other mammals. In animals, however, it generally does not cause health problems.
Although there are cases of Q fever in every season, they are mostly concentrated in the spring and early summer months. The highlight is the weeks between April and May.
Origin of Q fever
Q fever is usually a mild, flu-like illness. However, there is also a severe form that causes damage to the brain, heart, liver and lungs.
The bacterium Coxiella burnetii, responsible for the fever, mainly dwells in the residual material of the birth of animals such as the placenta and amniotic fluid. It is also found in the milk, urine and feces of infected animals.
In some cases the infection is transmitted even without direct contact with animals, inhaling dust contaminated with organic material or through the consumption of infected unpasteurized milk.
Characteristics and symptoms
It is estimated that for every ten people who contract the bacterium, only five experience symptoms. Symptoms typically present two to three weeks after exposure to the causative agent. The most common manifestations of Q fever are:
- Fever with chills and sweat.
- Headache and body aches.
- Nausea, vomiting and / or diarrhea.
- Fatigue.
- Chest and / or abdominal pain.
- Dry cough.
- Weight loss.
Symptoms can be mild or severe. If the infection passes to the lungs or liver, it can cause pneumonia or hepatitis. There is a certain risk of miscarriage in pregnant women.
About five in a hundred patients develop chronic Q fever that relapses months or even years after the initial infection. In this case, it is a serious problem that is life-threatening, as it can usually reach one or more heart valves.
Risk factors
The bacterium has farm and domestic animals as its preferred vector, but has also been isolated from wild specimens and from ticks. The main risk factor is direct or indirect contact with infected animals.
Therefore, those who work in contact with animals such as livestock or slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians, inspectors of the livestock sector, etc. Statistics also indicate that men are more likely to contract this disease.
The most interested age group is the one that goes from 30 to 70 years . It is very rare for Q fever to affect children, and when it does, it starts with symptoms of pneumonia.
More data on Q fever
People with:
- A medical history of heart valve disorders
- Abnormalities of the blood vessels
- weak immune system
- pregnancy
At the moment it is not possible to get vaccinated against Q fever, so taking preventive measures is the best way to avoid the infection. For everyone, however, the advice not to consume unpasteurized milk from any animal is valid.
For those who work in contact with animals or live in the countryside, it is necessary to pay attention to the symptoms of fever and go to the doctor immediately. Finally, those in the high risk category for health reasons should avoid contact with animals.
