Co-infections: Q Fever

• Cause: Coxiella burnetii bacteria

• Contracted on farms and ranches that have infected cattle, sheep, or goats

• Usually contracted from contact with placenta or birth fluids while assisting in the birth of the young from infected animals

• Also contracted by:

• Inhaling dust contaminated with feces, the placenta, or amniotic fluid of infected animals

• Drinking unpasturized milk from infected animals

• Contact with urine of infected animals

• A bite from an infected tick

• Most infected animals show no symptoms

• The disease may be discovered by an outbreak of animal stillbirths on the ranch or farm

• High fever,

• 104 or 105 degrees

• Severe headache

• Malaise

• Myalgia

• Chills, sweats

• Dry cough

• Nausea, vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Chest pain

Treatment:

• Most successful if begun promptly. Don’t wait for test results, which are usually negative early in the illness.

• Acute Stage:  Treat 2 to 3 weeks with Doxycycline

• Chronic Illness: Treat 18 months with Doxycycline, 100 mg. 2 times a day plus Hydroxychloroquine, 200 mg. 3 times a day

• Children:  Doxycycline if severely ill
  Co-trimoxazole for mild illness in children under age 8

• Pregnancy: Treat for duration of pregnancy with Co-trimoxazole, 1 time per day