None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the highly infectious agent Coxiella Burnetti. This agent is transmitted via animal’s urine, faeces and bodily fluids in which they dry up and become contaminated dust in air. Humans contract this intracellular bacterium via the respiratory route, as they breathe the contaminated air. Literature provides some ideas on the exposure risks for developing Q fever such as; being a farmer, sheep and dairy workers, veterinarians, laboratory workers, and many more. However not much has been shown on specific animals transmitting Q fever, especially the comparison of the well-established risk of exposure to cattle verse the native mammals such as macropods. In addition acute Q fever can develop into chronic Q fever within some patients, thus creating an array of complications such as endocarditis, pneumonia, hepatitis, pregnancy related problems, and meningitis. These complications delineate the importance of identifying the exposure risks in order to develop possible preventative regimes against Q fever. In the setting of a regional and rural population consisting of approximately 160,000 people which is mainly known for its’ mining, farming, cane-farming industry as well as its’ diverse native fauna, it is interesting in analysing the different exposure risks for developing Q fever. This exposure ranges from contact with different animals (such as sheep, cattle, macropods), living in different climates (such as wet and dry season) and those within different professions (such as farming, cane-farming, meat workers, veterinarians, laboratory workers). In addition, the study will hopefully illustrate any underlying medical conditions which may predispose patients to contracting Q fever. Researching both of these outcomes will help create a risk profile for humans in developing Q fever.
Interventions
We are doing a retrospective study of the patients who have developed Q fever within last 10 years. We are looking at patients demographic profile, their previous medical conditions/surgeries/medication, their exposure risk factors (such as their property size, their occupation, their fence size, their exposure to animals), social history (drinking/smoking habits), and treatment they received for infection. This will be answered via a simple questionnaire, hopefully over the next few months. Pat
We are doing a retrospective study of the patients who have developed Q fever within last 10 years. We are looking at patients demographic profile, their previous medical conditions/surgeries/medication, their exposure risk factors (such as their property size, their occupation, their fence size, their exposure to animals), social history (drinking/smoking habits), and treatment they received for infection. This will be answered via a simple questionnaire, hopefully over the next few months. Patients complete questionnaire only once, and information provided within their answers should only be before or at time of diagnosis.
Sponsors
Pirathaban Sivabalan
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 150 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
all patients aged over 18 who have been reported as serologically positive for Q fever within Mackay Health district over the last 10 years
Exclusion criteria
Patients under 18 with serological positive Q fever
Outcome results
None listed