Honarmand Hamidreza
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2012;2012:131932. doi: 10.1155/2012/131932. Epub 2012 Nov 19.
Q fever is a bacterial infection affecting mainly the lungs, liver, and heart. It is found around the world and is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. The bacteria affects sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and ticks. Infected animals shed this bacteria in birth products, feces, milk, and urine. Humans usually get Q fever by breathing in contaminated droplets released by infected animals and drinking raw milk. People at highest risk for this infection are farmers, laboratory workers, sheep and dairy workers, and veterinarians. Chronic Q fever develops in people who have been infected for more than 6 months. It usually takes about 20 days after exposure to the bacteria for symptoms to occur. Most cases are mild, yet some severe cases have been reported. Symptoms of acute Q fever may include: chest pain with breathing, cough, fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pains, and shortness of breath. Symptoms of chronic Q fever may include chills, fatigue, night sweats, prolonged fever, and shortness of breath. Q fever is diagnosed with a blood antibody test. The main treatment for the disease is with antibiotics. For acute Q fever, doxycycline is recommended. For chronic Q fever, a combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine is often used long term. Complications are cirrhosis, hepatitis, encephalitis, endocarditis, pericarditis, myocarditis, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, meningitis, and pneumonia. People at risk should always: carefully dispose of animal products that may be infected, disinfect any contaminated areas, and thoroughly wash their hands. Pasteurizing milk can also help prevent Q fever.
Q热是一种主要影响肺部、肝脏和心脏的细菌感染。它在世界各地都有发现，由伯氏考克斯体细菌引起。这种细菌会感染绵羊、山羊、牛、狗、猫、鸟类、啮齿动物和蜱虫。受感染的动物会在分娩产物、粪便、乳汁和尿液中排出这种细菌。人类通常通过吸入受感染动物释放的污染飞沫以及饮用生奶而感染Q热。感染这种疾病风险最高的人群是农民、实验室工作人员、绵羊和乳制品工人以及兽医。慢性Q热发生在感染超过6个月的人群中。接触细菌后通常需要约20天症状才会出现。大多数病例症状较轻，但也有一些严重病例的报告。急性Q热的症状可能包括：呼吸时胸痛、咳嗽、发热、头痛、黄疸、肌肉疼痛和呼吸急促。慢性Q热的症状可能包括寒战、疲劳、盗汗、长期发热和呼吸急促。Q热通过血液抗体检测来诊断。该疾病的主要治疗方法是使用抗生素。对于急性Q热，推荐使用强力霉素。对于慢性Q热，通常长期联合使用强力霉素和羟氯喹。并发症有肝硬化、肝炎、脑炎、心内膜炎、心包炎、心肌炎、间质性肺纤维化、脑膜炎和肺炎。有风险的人群应始终：小心处理可能被感染的动物产品，对任何污染区域进行消毒，并彻底洗手。对牛奶进行巴氏杀菌也有助于预防Q热。
