Q fever (late)

Symptoms:

Initial symptoms may reappear or may persist:

• fever
• headache
• muscle pains
• joint pain (arthralgia)
• dry cough (non-productive)

Other symptoms that may develop include:

• chest pain
• abdominal pain
• jaundice

Signs and tests:

Physical examination may reveal an enlarged liver and spleen. Listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) may reveal a heart murmur.

Tests:

• Serology tests show the presence of antibodies to Coxiella. This includes complement fixation, immunofluorescence antibody tests, or ELISA tests.
• A chest X-ray often shows pneumonia, atelectasis, or other changes.
• An ECG may be performed to determine if the disease has affected the heart.

This disease may also alter the results of a febrile/cold agglutinins test.