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Clinical and epidemiological features of hospitalized acute Q fever cases from Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia), 1985-2002.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Q fever shows a wide diversity of clinical manifestation. Q fever is endemic in northern Croatia, but the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of this disease in various ecological areas of southern Croatia are unclear.
MATERIAL/METHODS:
From January 1985 to December 2002, acute Q fever cases hospitalized at Split University Hospital were analyzed. Acute Q fever was defined as fever (>38 degrees C) with clinical findings in lung and/or liver verified by serologic testing with Coxiella burnetii phase II antigen.
RESULTS:
During the period of observation, 155 acute Q fever cases were hospitalized. The mean incidence of acute Q fever in the study region was 0.20/100,000/year (95%CI:0-0.78) in the coastal area and 4.64/100,000/year (95%CI:0.44-8.85) in the non-coastal areas, with a male predominance (chi2=60.0; p=0.0000) and a mean male to female ratio of 4.2:1. People of essentially all ages (4-76 years) were affected, the highest rate of infection being recorded in 20- to 49-year-old age groups. In contrast to adults, girls were more frequently affected than boys (2:1). No case of acute Q fever was recorded on any of the nearby islands. Clinically, acute Q fever most commonly presented with both pneumonia and hepatitis (60.0%), followed by pneumonia (25.8%), hepatitis (9.0%), and nonspecific febrile illnesses (5.2%).
CONCLUSIONS:
C. burnetii is endemic in rural, coastal, and non-coastal areas of southern Croatia and is associated with stock breeding. In these areas, Q fever occurs sporadically and epidemically. Males 20-49 years of age were the prevalent cases.
AuthorsBoris Luksić, Volga Punda-Polić, Ivo Ivić, Ivica Bradarić, Nikola Bradarić
JournalMedical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research (Med Sci Monit) Vol. 12 Issue 3 Pg. CR126-31 (Mar 2006) ISSN: 1234-1010 [Print] United States
PMID16501424 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
Topics
  • Acute Disease
  • Age Distribution
  • Antibodies, Bacterial (analysis)
  • Coxiella burnetii (immunology)
  • Croatia (epidemiology)
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Geography
  • Hepatitis (epidemiology, microbiology)
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Pneumonia, Rickettsial (epidemiology, microbiology)
  • Prevalence
  • Q Fever (diagnosis, epidemiology, immunology, microbiology, pathology)
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

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