Q Fever: A Coxiella Burnetii Infection

Abstract

Q fever is a worldwide disease caused by a bacterium Coxiella burnetti. The C. burnetii is found in goats, sheep, and cows. A higher risk of Q fever is observed in farmers and veterinarians. Acute and chronic diseases are two forms of Q fever. The symptoms of an acute form of Q fever are illness, headache, myalgia, chills, fatigue, sweats, pneumonia, hepatitis, while endocarditis is the most lethal type of chronic form of Q fever. Nucleic acid testing and serological methods are the methods used to diagnose Q fever. In the case of acute disease, an antibiotic Doxycycline (100 mg) is recommended twice a day for its treatment while for endocarditis a combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine or a combination of doxycycline plus a fluoroquinolone (FQ) may be prescribed.

Keywords: Acute and Chronic, Coxiella burnetii, Doxycycline, Fluoroquinolones and Endocarditis, Hydroxychloroquine.

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