On December 27, 2024, the gastroenterology department of the People's Hospital of Qingcheng District, Qingyuan City, treated a 70-year-old male patient who had a recurrent high fever for more than 10 days and was later diagnosed with "Q fever".
What is Q fever?
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii (also known as Q fever rickettsia). It can remain infectious for several months in extreme environments, with an incubation period of 2-3 weeks. It occurs throughout the year, with a higher incidence in spring and summer.
(Photo: Shenzhen Health Commission)
The pathogen mainly exists in the urine, feces, and amniotic fluid of infected animals. Humans are mainly infected through aerosol respiratory transmission, contact with infected animals, and gastrointestinal transmission by consuming infected meat and raw milk.
Symptoms of Q fever
Q fever can be divided into acute and chronic types. Acute Q fever is characterized by sudden fever with a temperature as high as 39-40℃, which can last for more than 15 days, accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and severe headache. Chronic Q fever can last for several months or longer, mainly manifesting as endocarditis, chronic hepatitis, osteomyelitis, etc.
(Photo: Fever clinic of the People's Hospital of Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province)
When the patient's condition is severe, it may also lead to multi-organ failure and even death. It is worth noting that some symptoms of Q fever are similar to those of a common cold, which is one of the reasons why it is easily misdiagnosed and missed.
How to prevent Q fever?
At present, there are anti-inflammatory drugs for Q fever such as doxycycline, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, sulfonamides, quinolones, clindamycin, etc. But how can we protect ourselves in daily life?
1. People who have poultry should strengthen the management of livestock and take good disinfection measures.
2. Consumers should not buy meat that has not been inspected, and should not eat raw or undercooked meat, nor drink raw milk.
3. Staff who have close contact with livestock in slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, leather tanneries, etc., should take good personal protection.
4. When going out in summer, it is best to spray mosquito repellent on exposed skin during outdoor activities, and avoid sitting or lying on grasslands and forests for a long time.
Author | Wang Yulin (intern), Liu Lingzhi
Editor | James, Shen He, Zhang Ying
