After the bird flu, the rare infectious disease Q fever is currently keeping the German population in suspense.
We have summarized everything important for you.
Frankfurt – Q fever is widespread worldwide and everyone is talking about it in this country due to infections currently being reported in the district of Lüneburg.
Like monkeypox, bird flu and rabies, it is a zoonotic disease - a disease transmitted from animals to humans.
According to information from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 60 percent of infectious diseases worldwide are transmitted by animals.
Q fever - first named "query fever" (a fever of unknown cause) in Queensland, Australia in 1937, usually causes flu-like symptoms, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) informs.
The trigger for this is the bacterium
Coxiella burnetii
.
Transmission to humans occurs mainly through inhalation of droplets or infectious dust, without direct contact with animals being necessary.
Since 1995, the RKI has registered an increase in reported illnesses, reports fr.de.
Q fever: What symptoms and signs can occur
According to the RKI, around 50 percent of a Q fever infection is often without symptoms (asymptomatic infection) or with flu-like symptoms.
In rather rare cases, it can cause a chronic disease.
The common symptoms of Q fever are:
High fever
Strong headache
chills
Muscle aches
severe malaise
anorexia
sweats
Source: MSD Manual
The acute infection usually lasts about two weeks and heals on its own.
An infection can be treated well with the antibiotic doxycycline.
However, in older people, especially those who are weak or have previous illnesses, serious respiratory symptoms can also occur.
Q fever: disease course and diagnosis
In the rare case that Q fever does not heal, the disease becomes chronic.
As the RKI informs, the most common consequence is endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart).
In such a case, people with heart valve diseases, a weakened immune system and pregnant women are particularly at risk.
Infection during pregnancy often leads to a chronic disease.
Chronic bone, lung and liver infections can also occur.
Since the symptoms of Q fever are similar to those of the flu, it is difficult to immediately conclude that you have Q fever infection.
According to the MSD Manual,
the symptoms can also indicate other infections such as influenza or hepatitis,
especially in the initial phase .
In order to be able to reliably detect a Q fever infection, doctors recommend a blood test for antibodies against Coxellae antigens.
Editor's note
The information given in this article does not replace a visit to a doctor. Only experts can make the right diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. The intake of medication or dietary supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
The information given in this article does not replace a visit to a doctor.
Only experts can make the right diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy.
The intake of medication or dietary supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
Q fever: preventive and protective measures
One of the most important measures is to avoid contact with infected, unvaccinated animals at best.
The same applies to contact with infected people.
Since an infection can also be completely asymptomatic in animals, regular test examinations are necessary.
People from the agricultural environment are particularly affected.
It is therefore important to detect an infection in farm animals in good time so that appropriate precautionary measures, such as vaccination, can be taken.
(Vivian Werg)