Signs and Symptoms of Q fever:

• Most acute cases of Q fever begin with sudden onset of one or more of the following: high fevers (up to 104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit), severe headache, general malaise, myalgia, confusion, sore throat, chills, sweats, non-productive cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and chest pain. Fever usually lasts for one to two weeks. Only 1 to 2 percent of people with acute Q fever die of the disease.

• Chronic Q fever, characterized by infection that persists for more than six months, is uncommon but is a much more serious disease. As many as 65 percent of persons with chronic Q fever may die of the disease.

• The incubation period for Q fever varies depending on the number of organisms that initially infect the patient. Infection with greater numbers of organisms will result in shorter incubation periods. Most patients become ill within two to three weeks after exposure. Those who recover fully from infection may possess lifelong immunity against re-infection.



Source: Centers for Disease Control Web site