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- What is q fever?
- Symptoms of q fever
- Causes of q fever
- Prevention of q fever
- Risk factors for q fever
- Complications of q fever
- When to see a doctor about q fever
- Diagnosis of q fever
- Conventional treatment of q fever
- Alternative/complementary treatment of q fever
- Living with q fever
- Caring for someone with q fever
Q fever is a serious infection which is caused by a bacteria (Coxiella burnetii). This bacteria is found in infected animals and is then passed onto humans, who are similarly infected.
People can be infected by the bacteria that causes Q fever by unintentionally inhaling tiny droplets of the infected bacteria when bodily fluids such as faeces, urine and birth material especially are excreted by an infected animal.
Q fever can be either one of the following types:
- Acute Q fever- sudden and severe onset of symptoms after exposure to the bacteria Coxiella burnetii
- Chronic Q fever - this develops in people who have been infected with the bacteria Coxiella burnetii for over 6 months without effective treatment
Both acute and chronic Q fever can cause death if the bacteria proliferates too quickly and medication is not prescribed quickly enough. The incidence of death due to Q fever is about 1-2% of all reported cases of the condition.
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Facts about Q fever
- Q fever can adversely affect the lungs, liver, heart especially, but it can also affect other tissues and organs of the body
- There is a vaccine available for Q fever which has been developed in Australia and it is advised for people who are at the highest risk of coming into contact with animals infected with this disease
- People working in the livestock industry with cattle and livestock industry are at the highest risk of developing this condition
- People with Q fever should register their condition, to prevent it spreading and to help monitor their condition
- Q fever has been reported all over the world
- Q fever was first discovered in abattoir workers in Queensland (Australia) in the 1930's
- The "Q" in Q fever means "query" as scientists at the time were querying the reason for the disease - they didn't know what caused it
- Coxiella burnetii is a highly infectious disease that is quite resistant to heat and which can become airborne and inhaled by humans
- Approximately 1% of all people who develop Q fever will also have a complication such as chronic endocarditis, a serious inflammation of the heart muscle
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