Neurological Findings in Q Fever Seropositivity

• Main Authors: Fatma SIRMATEL, Talat Oğulcan ÖZARSLAN, Şule AYDIN TÜRKOĞLU, Pınar BÜCÜK, Selçuk KILIÇ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi 2021-09-01
• Series: Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi
• Subjects: q fever; coxiella burnetii infection; neurologic findings; diagnosis
• Online Access: http://floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2021-03/504-517%20Fatma%20Sirmatel.pdf

Introduction: Q fever is a zoonotic disease with high morbidity and low mortality with multisystemic involvement. It is transmitted to humans through inhalation and gastrointestinal system. The disease is known to be asymptomatic in the acute and may result in mortality with complications in the chronic phase. 26 Q fever cases with neurological involvement were examined demographically. Materials and Methods: Q fever cases we have observed in the last five years were evaluated retrospectively in terms of neurological involvement. The diagnosis of the patients was made clinically and radiologically according to the serological indicators. The diagnosis was decided according to clinic and blood seropositivity. The process of acute and chronic identification was made according to the complaints, increased titration in phase II and phase I antibody positivity. The cases with neurological complaints were included in the study. Cases with neurological symptoms related to other causes were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 26 patients, 21 were male and 5 were female, and their mean age was 56.38 ± 16.93 and 41.20 ± 30.57, respectively. 22 patients had definite acute, 3 patients had possible, and 1 patient had chronic diagnosis. Two patients were mortal in acute fatal encephalitis. Despite one of our cases was in the encephalitis picture, he died in intensive care unit due to the lower respiratory tract infection. A total of 23 cases responded well to antibiotic therapy. Doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone were used in the treatment of patients. While improvement was observed in all patients using doxycycline, mortality was observed in two of the late diagnoses due to atypical neurological involvement. Conclusion: It is known that Q fever is a zoonotic disease that has been overlooked in recent years. Considering q fever in patients with neurological involvement in endemic regions and evaluating early treatment and serological indicators can be lifesaving.