Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Q fever physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Patients with Q fever usually appear ill. Physical examination of patients with Q fever usually shows fever, pneumonia, and hepatomegaly.
Physical examination
Physical examination
Examination of a patient with Q fever might reveal the following signs:
Vital signs
- Fever: High grade fevers that are usually accompanied by chills and sweats[1][2]
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
General
- Patient looks ill
Skin
- Maculopapular or punctate rash
- Erythema nodosum
- Spider nevi if hepatic decompensation is present
HEENT
- Jaundice
- Congested neck veins if endocarditis or myocarditis is complicated by heart failure[3]
Lungs
- Minimal auscultatory findings in most cases
- Crackles especially in the lower lung fields
- Decreased breath sounds if pleural effusion is present
Abdomen
- Hepatomegaly
- Ascites if chronic hepatitis ensues
Cardiovascular
- S3 due to hyperdynamic circulation
- New onset murmur if endocarditis is present
- Pericardial rub and distant heart sounds if pericarditis and pericardial effusion are present
Neurological examination
- Neck rigidity and positive Brudsiniski and Kuring signs
- Signs of increased intracranial pressure (vomiting, convulsions, papilledema, etc)
Extremities
- Tenderness on palpation of the affected joints and bones
- Lower limb edema in presence of heart failure
References
References
- ↑ Ishikawa H, Maeda H, Takamatsu H, Saito Y (1979). “Systemic hyalinosis (juvenile hyaline fibromatosis). Ultrastructure of the hyaline with particular reference to the cross-banded structure”. Arch. Dermatol. Res. 265 (2): 195–206. PMID 88923.
- ↑ Marrie TJ (1990). “Q fever – a review”. Can. Vet. J. 31 (8): 555–63. PMC 1480833. PMID 17423643.
- ↑ Derrick EH (1983). ““Q” fever, a new fever entity: clinical features, diagnosis and laboratory investigation”. Rev. Infect. Dis. 5 (4): 790–800. PMID 6622891.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]