Q Fever

Infectious Diseases Bacterial Diseases

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The information on the Rare Awareness Rare Education (RARE) Portal is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace professional advice.

Rare diseases typically display a high level of symptom complexity and variability. Individuals diagnosed with the same rare disease may be impacted differently and each person’s experience is unique. Please seek support from qualified healthcare professionals to learn more about the most suitable care and support options for you.

For more information on Q Fever, please refer to the Australian Government Department of Health factsheet on Q Fever.¹

There are currently no known organisations in Australia specifically for this rare disease. If you know of any rare disease organisation/s supporting people living with Q Fever in Australia, please let us know via the Contribute page. If you are interested in starting an Australian organisation for people living with Q Fever, please see Engaged, Ethical and Effective: A Guide for Rare Disease Organisation Leaders in Australia.

If you are aware of any additional information that may benefit stakeholders with an interest in this page, or if you notice any broken links or inaccurate information, please let us know via the Contribute page.

Emergency Management

There may be special considerations for the emergency management of individuals living with Q Fever presenting to emergency departments.

Clinical Care Guidelines

Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) have developed the Q Fever – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units.³

Further information about the treatment of Q Fever is detailed in the Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) Clinical Pathway 2020.⁴

Additional information for medical practitioners:

Synonyms

Coxiella Burnetii Fever; Q Fever Pneumonia; Query Fever

ORPHA:781

ICD-11: 1C33 Q fever

Summary

Q Fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii bacteria.^1,2 Animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and kangaroos are the primary carriers of the bacteria, and can spread it through birth fluids, milk, urine and faeces.² The bacteria can survive for a long time in the environment and infect humans who breathe in contaminated droplets and dust.^1,2Humans are vulnerable to getting the disease, but it is rare for it to spread between individuals.

Majority of people who get infected do not have any symptoms, but for those who do, it often presents as a severe flu-like illness.¹ There may be extremely rare complications associated with the heart, muscles or nervous system.³Infections during pregnancy have been associated with miscarriages, fetal growth retardation and premature births.³ Early recognition and immediate treatment of Q Fever are essential. Whilst the infections are usually acute, it can develop into a chronic infection with various other complications.^1,3Those at increased risk of developing chronic Q fever include immunosuppressed individuals, pregnant women and people with heart disease or complications.^1,3

A Q Fever vaccine is available to protect people who are at risk; however, screening and testing of Q Fever immunity status is required prior to vaccination.³People who have had Q Fever should not be vaccinated as it can result in severe reactions. Preventative measures (good hygiene, personal protective equipment and safe, immediate disposal of animal birth materials and manure) can also reduce the risk of disease.¹

Useful Links for Professionals

Australian Government Department of Health factsheet on Q Fever

Orphanet: Q Fever

Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO): Q Fever

Symptoms

Symptoms of Q fever include a severe flu-like illness, such as fever and chills, sweats, severe headache (particularly behind the eyes), cough, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue and weight loss.^1,3The time for symptoms to first appear can vary between 4 days to 6 weeks from exposure, but in most cases it is after 2-3 weeks.¹

In rare cases, Q Fever can develop into a chronic form, with complications affecting the heart, bone and joints, or chronic fatigue.^1,3

It is best to speak to your medical team to learn more about the symptoms and complications of Q Fever.

Additional information can be found in the Australian Government Department of Health factsheet on Q Fever.¹

Cause/Inheritance

Infection usually occurs by inhalation of the Coxiella burnetii bacteria from air that contains airborne barnyard dust contaminated by dried placental material, birth fluids and waste products of infected animals.^1,2 Other modes of transmission to humans, including tick bites, ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products, and human to human transmission (through blood transfusion or mother-to-fetus), are possible but rare.^1,2

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Q Fever can be based on symptoms, clinical examination and laboratory tests on blood samples (two or more blood samples on separate occasions may be required). If you suspect you have Q Fever, please see your medical practitioner as early diagnosis and treatment of Q Fever is essential.¹

Newborn Screening

Newborn screening is not applicable for Q Fever as this is an infectious disease in which individuals can be infected at any stage of life.

Treatment

Acute Q Fever is often treated with antibiotics. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Prolonged antibiotics treatment may be required to treat those with chronic Q Fever.¹

Clinical Care

Please see your general practitioner (GP) as soon as possible if you suspect you have Q Fever. GPs who have diagnosed or are managing a patient with Q Fever are encouraged to consult infectious disease specialists and medical microbiologists for further guidance.^4-6

Research

Please visit Australian Clinical Trials to learn about clinical trials for Q Fever in Australia; there may not be any clinical trials currently available.

Information regarding clinical trials for Q Fever in other countries can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov; there may not be any clinical trials currently available.

It is best to discuss your interest in any clinical trials with your medical team to determine suitability and eligibility.

Rare Disease Organisation(s)

There are currently no known rare disease organisations/s supporting people living with Q Fever in Australia. If you are aware of any Q Fever organisations in Australia, please let us know via the Contribute page.

For information on available government and social services that provide support for individuals with a rare disease, please visit the National and State Services pages.

Mental Health

Please visit the ‘Mental Health’ sections listed on the National and State Services pages.

Other

Q Fever is a nationally notifiable disease, which means medical practitioners or laboratories are required, by law, to report cases of Q Fever to their local health.

Further information on Q Fever can be found at:

References

Australian Government Department of Health. Australian endemic tick-borne diseases – Q fever. Aug 2021. 5 p. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/08/australian-endemic-tick-borne-diseases-q-fever.pdf
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center. Q fever. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7515/q-fever
Communicable Diseases Network Australia. Q Fever cDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units. 2018. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/02/q-fever-cdna-national-guidelines-for-public-health-units.pdf
Australian Government Department of Health. Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) Clinical Pathway. Oct 2020. 65 p. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/debilitating-symptom-complexes-attributed-to-ticks-dscatt-clinical-pathway
Eastwood K, Graves SR, Massey PD, Bosward K, van den Berg D, Hutchinson P. Q fever: A rural disease with potential urban consequences. Aust. J. Gen. Pract. [Internet]. 2018, 47(3):5555. Available from: https://doi.org/10.31128/afp-08-17-4299
Gunaratnam P, Massey PD, Eastwood K, Graves S, Coote D, Fisher L, et al. Diagnosis and management of zoonoses A tool for general practice. Aust. Fam. Physician. [Internet]. 2014, 43(3):124-8. Available from: https://www.racgp.org.au/getattachment/a8981aa0-78fa-41b2-afa2-dd8db1485a33/Zoonoses.aspx

Page Last Updated

04/12/2023 10:52