Q fever should be suspected when certain findings are present.
When should Q fever be suspected - both of the following:
(1) the patient has an acute, subacute or chronic febrile illness
(2) one or more of the following:
(2a) the patient lives in or has visited an endemic region
(2b) the patient has had contact with animals or has visited a farm
(2c) the person has ingested unpasteurized milk from a cow, sheep or goat
(2d) the person has eaten cheese or other product made from unpasteurized milk
(2e) the person has 2 or more of the following: pneumonia, hepatitis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, infected vascular graft, infectious arthritis
If Q fever is suspected, then laboratory testing can be done to establish the diagnosis.
