overview
Q fever is an infection caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Q fever is usually a mild illness with flu-like symptoms. Many people have no symptoms, and a small percentage of people can get the infection again years later. This more deadly form of Q fever can damage the heart, liver, brain, and lungs.
Q fever is transmitted to humans from animals, most commonly sheep, goats, and cattle. If you inhale barn dust particles contaminated with infected animals, you can become infected. High risk professions include agriculture, veterinary medicine, and animal research. Query fever Treatment in Khammam
symptoms
Many people with Q fever never have symptoms. If you have symptoms, you will likely notice them between three and 30 days after exposure to the bacteria.
Signs and symptoms can include:
- High fever, up to 41 ° C
- Strong headache
- Tired
- chills
- to cough
- nausea
The reasons
Q fever is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, which is common in sheep, goats, and cattle. The bacteria can also infect pets such as cats, dogs, and rabbits.
These animals transmit the bacteria through urine, feces, milk and birth products – such as placenta and amniotic fluid. When these substances dry out, the bacteria they contain become part of the airborne barn dust. The infection is usually transmitted to humans through the lungs when they inhale contaminated garden dust. Query fever Treatment in Khammam
Risk factors
Certain factors can increase your risk of contracting Q fever bacteria, including:
Occupation. Some occupations put you at higher risk because you are exposed to animals and animal products while you work. Occupations at risk include veterinary medicine, meat processing, animal husbandry, and animal research.
Place. If you are only near a farm or agricultural facility, you are at greater risk of Q fever because the bacteria can travel long distances and accompany dust particles in the air.
Your gender: Men are more likely to develop symptomatic acute Q fever.
Period of the year. Q fever can occur at any time of the year, but the number of infections in the United States is usually highest in April and May.
Complications
If Q fever comes back, it can affect the heart, liver, lungs, and brain and cause serious complications such as:
- Endocarditis. Inflammation of the membrane in your heart, endocarditis, can seriously damage your heart valves. Endocarditis is the deadliest of the complications of Q fever.
- Lung problems. Some people with Q fever develop pneumonia. This can lead to acute shortness of breath, a medical emergency in which you are not getting enough oxygen.
- Pregnancy problems. Chronic Q fever increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth.
preventions
A Q fever vaccine for people at high risk has been developed in Australia but is not available in the US.
Whether or not you are at high risk for Q fever, it is important to only use pasteurized milk and pasteurized dairy products. Pasteurization is a process that kills bacteria. Query fever Treatment in Khammam