Q fever - Symptoms of Q fever

Q fever is usually a short-term infection that lasts about two weeks.

Symptoms usually develop two to three weeks after the initial infection, although they can take as little as two days or as long as 40 days.

Symptoms of Q fever include:

• high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or more
• severe headaches
• muscle and joint pain
• sweats
• sore throat 
• sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• weight loss
• a skin rash (very unusual)

The symptoms can come on suddenly and usually last up to two weeks.

In some cases, Q fever can also cause pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) and hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).

Pneumonia caused by Q fever is usually mild. Symptoms include a dry cough and a sharp chest pain made worse by breathing deeply, coughing or laughing.

As with pneumonia, hepatitis caused by Q fever is usually mild and many people will experience no obvious symptoms.

Long-term Q fever

Occasionally, symptoms of Q fever last six months or longer. This is known as chronic Q fever. You may feel tired and generally unwell for months. 

In rare cases, chronic Q fever can cause the inner lining of the heart to become inflamed (endocarditis). This is more likely if your heart valves are already damaged, or if you have had heart valve replacement surgery.

Pregnancy

If you get Q fever while pregnant you may not have any symptoms. However, your unborn baby can be affected whether you experience any symptoms or not. It can cause:

• your baby to be born early
• your baby to have a low birth weight
• a miscarriage or stillbirth