Definition

1. Noun:
   • An acute infectious disease: Q fever is a zoonotic illness caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. It is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and general malaise, often resembling influenza or pneumonia in its initial symptoms. The disease is typically transmitted to humans from animals, especially livestock, through inhalation of contaminated dust or aerosols.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer was diagnosed with Q fever after working with his infected sheep.
  • Symptoms of Q fever can include high fever, chills, and profuse sweating.
  • An outbreak of Q fever was traced back to the local dairy farm.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: In clinical settings, "Q fever" is used to specify this particular bacterial infection, distinguishing it from other febrile illnesses. It can present as an acute or chronic condition.
  • The chronic form of Q fever can lead to endocarditis, a serious heart infection.

Variants and Related Words

• Query fever: An older, synonymous term for Q fever. The "Q" stands for "query," as the cause was unknown when the disease was first described.
• Coxiella burnetii: The scientific name of the bacterium that causes Q fever.
• Zoonosis: A category of diseases, like Q fever, that are transmitted from animals to humans.

Synonyms

• Query fever: The full historical name.
• Coxiellosis: A less common technical term derived from the bacterium's name.

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically refers to the disease entity itself. It is not used as a verb or adjective. The name is always capitalized ("Q fever") as it originates from the initial letter of "query."

Noun

1. an acute disease resembling influenza