Q fever: clinical manifestations and treatment

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2010 May;8(5):529-39. doi: 10.1586/eri.10.29.

Abstract

Public awareness and advances in the diagnostic approach to Q fever have provided important information on epidemiological and clinical aspects of this zoonosis. Coxiella burnetii infection exhibits various acute or chronic clinical forms, and infection during pregnancy may jeopardize the integrity of the fetus. The presentation of infection is often nonspecific and this hinders prompt diagnosis. Therapeutic regimens vary, and treating Q fever during pregnancy and childhood is often challenging. Increasing clinical experience with C. burnetii infections has helped create treatment protocols and follow-up algorithms that have considerably improved management and prognosis. Vaccines are available, although their use is still limited.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coxiella burnetii* / drug effects
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / physiopathology*
  • Q Fever / diagnosis
  • Q Fever / drug therapy*
  • Q Fever / epidemiology
  • Q Fever / physiopathology*
  • Zoonoses

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Doxycycline