Infección por Coxiella burnetii (fiebre Q)

2010

In spite of being described over 60 years, Q fever is still a little known disease. The exact prevalence is also unknown, but probably the number of cases of Q fever is underestimated. There is much variation in the clinical presentation, including severe forms with a poor prognosis. Acute cases often present as an asymptomatic infection, flu-like syndrome, pneumonia or hepatitis. Presumably, host factors play an important role in the development of chronic disease, which may present as endocarditis with negative blood culture. The diagnosis of Q fever should be considered in cases of fever of unknown origin, especially if the subject has been in contact with mammals suspicious to be infect…