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Q fever



NHS Choices Syndication

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Q fever

Causes of Q fever

Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) bacteria. The bacteria are usually spread to animals by infected ticks.

Samples of C. burnetii have been found in almost all types of animals, including reptiles and fish.

However, the most commonly affected animals and those that pose the biggest risk to humans are:

  • sheep
  • cows
  • goats
  • domesticated pets, such as dogs, cats and guinea pigs

Most animals with Q fever don’t have any symptoms, so it can be difficult to tell if an animal is infected. However, the bacteria can cause an increase in miscarriages among infected cows or  sheep.

The bacteria can be released by an infected animal through its:

  • milk
  • blood
  • urine
  • stools (faeces)
  • fluids and products produced during birth, such as the afterbirth (placenta)

Birth by-products pose the greatest risk because they contain a high number of C. burnetii bacteria.

How Q fever is spread to humans

Q fever can be spread to humans in a number of ways. The c. burnetii bacteria are tough and can survive in the outside environment for up to six months. They can be spread through:

  • breathing in small particles released by infected animals, particularly when animals are being slaughtered or giving birth
  • breathing in small particles from contaminated soil, dust, hay, straw bedding or other substances
  • infected particles coming into contact with a cut on your skin or the white part of your eyes 
  • drinking unpasteurised milk from an infected animal (unpasteurised milk is milk not treated with heat to kill off bacteria)

Although it is possible for a bite from an infected tick to lead to Q fever, there have not been any recorded cases of this in the UK.

Human to human transmission

It is possible, although rare, to catch Q fever from another person. Most experts believe Q fever can only be transmitted from one human to another through:

  • sexual intercourse
  • a pregnant woman passing on the infection to her unborn child

Long-term Q fever

It is not clear why some people go on to develop long-term (chronic) Q fever. Most cases of chronic Q fever develop in people with a pre-existing health condition that makes them more vulnerable to infections. These conditions include:

People with a weakened immune system are more vulnerable to infection. A weakened immune system can either be caused by a health condition, such as an HIV infection, or a side effect of certain medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or long-term steroid use.

Published Date
2014-01-21 10:53:31Z
Last Review Date
2013-03-04 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-03-04 00:00:00Z
Classification
Q fever

Q fever – NHS Choices

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Q fever 

Introduction 

Q fever is an infection that can be passed from animals to humans 

How common is Q fever?

Around 50 cases of Q fever are reported in the UK each year. However, the actual number of cases may be higher because the symptoms can be mild and easily mistaken for flu.

Although Q fever can occur at any time of year, the number of cases reported in humans tends to peak during lambing season (January to April).

Q fever is an infection caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) bacteria.

The infection is carried by animals, most commonly sheep, cattle and goats.

Q fever in humans is unusual in the UK, but more common elsewhere, including in some European countries.

Q fever causes flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, muscle pain and headaches.

Read more about the symptoms of Q fever

How Q fever is transmitted

Q fever can be spread to humans from livestock, such as sheep, cows and goats.

People most at risk of infection are those who work closely with livestock such as:

  • farmers
  • stablehands
  • abattoir workers
  • meat packers
  • veterinarians

Coxiella burnetii bacteria are present in the afterbirth, birth fluids, milk, urine and faeces of infected animals.

You can become infected by breathing in contaminated dust, or by coming into contact with the placenta or amniotic fluid of an infected animal.  

Read more about the causes of Q fever.

Diagnosing Q fever

Q fever is usually diagnosed with a blood test.

If Coxiella burnetii bacteria enter your blood, your immune system (the body’s natural defence) will produce a particular antibody (protein) to kill them. These antibodies should show up in your blood two to three weeks after you have been infected.

Treating Q fever

Q fever usually lasts for about two weeks and gets better without treatment. You may need antibiotics if your symptoms are severe or if they don’t improve after a few weeks.

Less commonly, the symptoms of Q fever can last six months or longer. In such cases, you may need to take antibiotics for several years to prevent the infection reoccurring.

Read more about treating Q fever.

Vaccination

A vaccine for Q fever isn’t available in the UK. A vaccine has been produced in Australia, but has not been licensed for use in this country.  

However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to determine whether a routine vaccination should be made available to people in high-risk occupations (see above).

Read more about preventing Q fever.

Further information:

Why should pregnant women avoid sheep during the lambing season?
What infections can animals pass to people?
How can I avoid catching an infection from an animal?
What should I do if an animal bites me?  

Page last reviewed: 04/03/2013

Next review due: 04/03/2015

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Comments

The 1 comments posted are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

vetex007 said on 01 December 2010

Veterinarias should be included on the Risk Group. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_fever

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NHS Choices Syndication

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Q fever

Introduction

Q fever is an infection caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) bacteria.

The infection is carried by animals, most commonly sheep, cattle and goats.

Q fever in humans is unusual in the UK, but more common elsewhere, including in some European countries.

Q fever causes flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, muscle pain and headaches.

Read more about the symptoms of Q fever

How Q fever is transmitted

Q fever can be spread to humans from livestock, such as sheep, cows and goats.

People most at risk of infection are those who work closely with livestock such as:

  • farmers
  • stablehands
  • abattoir workers
  • meat packers
  • veterinarians

Coxiella burnetii bacteria are present in the afterbirth, birth fluids, milk, urine and faeces of infected animals.

You can become infected by breathing in contaminated dust, or by coming into contact with the placenta or amniotic fluid of an infected animal.  

Read more about the causes of Q fever.

Diagnosing Q fever

Q fever is usually diagnosed with a blood test.

If Coxiella burnetii bacteria enter your blood, your immune system (the body’s natural defence) will produce a particular antibody (protein) to kill them. These antibodies should show up in your blood two to three weeks after you have been infected.

Treating Q fever

Q fever usually lasts for about two weeks and gets better without treatment. You may need antibiotics if your symptoms are severe or if they don’t improve after a few weeks.

Less commonly, the symptoms of Q fever can last six months or longer. In such cases, you may need to take antibiotics for several years to prevent the infection reoccurring.

Read more about treating Q fever.

Vaccination

A vaccine for Q fever isn’t available in the UK. A vaccine has been produced in Australia, but has not been licensed for use in this country.  

However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to determine whether a routine vaccination should be made available to people in high-risk occupations (see above).

Read more about preventing Q fever.

Further information:

Why should pregnant women avoid sheep during the lambing season?
What infections can animals pass to people?
How can I avoid catching an infection from an animal?
What should I do if an animal bites me?  

Published Date
2014-01-21 10:53:01Z
Last Review Date
2013-03-04 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-03-04 00:00:00Z
Classification
Q fever


NHS Choices Syndication

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Q fever

Preventing Q fever

If you work with animals, your employer must take preventative measures to reduce your risk of getting Q fever.

For example, they must ensure all animal birth products are disposed of properly and access to infected animals is restricted.

You can also reduce your risk of getting Q fever by not drinking unpasteurised milk and dairy products, and by not touching anything that may have been in contact with animal blood, stools (faeces) or urine.

People particularly vulnerable to infection should avoid occupations that carry a high risk of exposure to Q fever. For example:

  • livestock workers
  • abattoir workers
  • meat packers
  • farmers
  • vets and veterinary assistants

People vulnerable to Q fever include:

  • those with a history of heart valve disease
  • those with a weakened immune system
  • pregnant women

Pregnancy

Pregnant women should avoid coming into contact with sheep and lambs during lambing season (January to April).

If you are pregnant and come into contact with sheep during lambing, the health of your baby may be at risk. This is because Q fever and other sheep-borne infections can cause miscarriages or stillbirths.

To reduce any risk of developing infections, it is recommended pregnant women should avoid:

  • helping lamb or milk ewes
  • coming into contact with aborted or newborn lambs or with the afterbirth
  • handling clothing, boots and other items that have come into contact with ewes or lambs

For more information, see why should pregnant women avoid sheep during the lambing season?

Published Date
2014-01-21 10:53:57Z
Last Review Date
2013-03-04 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-03-04 00:00:00Z
Classification
Q fever


NHS Choices Syndication

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Q fever

Symptoms of Q fever

Q fever is usually a short-term infection that lasts about two weeks.

Symptoms usually develop two to three weeks after the initial infection, although they can take as little as two days or as long as 40 days.

Symptoms of Q fever include:

  • high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or more
  • severe headaches
  • muscle and joint pain
  • sweats
  • sore throat 
  • sensitivity to light (photophobia)
  • weight loss
  • a skin rash (very unusual)

The symptoms can come on suddenly and usually last up to two weeks.

In some cases, Q fever can also cause pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) and hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).

Pneumonia caused by Q fever is usually mild. Symptoms include a dry cough and a sharp chest pain made worse by breathing deeply, coughing or laughing.

As with pneumonia, hepatitis caused by Q fever is usually mild and many people will experience no obvious symptoms.

Long-term Q fever

Occasionally, symptoms of Q fever last six months or longer. This is known as chronic Q fever. You may feel tired and generally unwell for months. 

In rare cases, chronic Q fever can cause the inner lining of the heart to become inflamed (endocarditis). This is more likely if your heart valves are already damaged, or if you have had heart valve replacement surgery.

Pregnancy

If you get Q fever while pregnant you may not have any symptoms. However, your unborn baby can be affected whether you experience any symptoms or not. It can cause:

Published Date
2014-01-21 10:53:17Z
Last Review Date
2013-03-04 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-03-04 00:00:00Z
Classification
Q fever


NHS Choices Syndication

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Q fever

Treating Q fever

Most people who develop Q fever get better without treatment within two weeks.

However, you may need treatment with antibiotics if your symptoms are severe, do not improve or reoccur after the initial infection.

Antibiotics

If you are diagnosed with Q fever, you may be prescribed antibiotics, such as doxycycline or co-trimoxazole.

You will need to take these for seven to 14 days and for at least three days after your fever has improved.

If you are prescribed antibiotics, it is important you finish the whole course, even if you feel better. This is to ensure all bacteria have been killed, preventing the infection from reoccurring.

Long-term Q fever

Q fever that lasts for a prolonged period of time (chronic Q fever) can be difficult to treat. This is because the C. burnetii bacteria which cause Q fever can be resistant to antibiotics (antibiotics are unable to kill them).

If you have chronic Q fever, you will need a combination of antibiotics. You will probably be advised to take these for at least 18-36 months. However, the infection returns in more than half of those who complete such a long course of treatment.

You may also need to have blood tests every three to six months while being treated to check the treatment is working.

If the lining of your heart is inflamed (endocarditis), you will need hospital treatment. Read more about treating endocarditis.

Published Date
2014-01-21 10:53:42Z
Last Review Date
2013-03-04 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-03-04 00:00:00Z
Classification
Q fever

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