Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
04:24
Acupoint Application as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Fatigue Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: September 5, 2025
Chronic fatigue syndrome after Q fever
Dragan Ledina1, Nikola Bradarić, Ivo Milas
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Split University Hospital, Split, Croatia. dledina@krizine.kbsplit.hr
Summary
Post-Q fever fatigue syndrome may be linked to Coxiella burnetii infection. Antibiotic treatment showed promise in some cases, but further research is needed for this rare chronic zoonosis.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Q fever, a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, typically presents acutely as pneumonia, flu-like illness, or hepatitis.
- A subset of patients develop chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) following acute Q fever, with serological evidence of persistent infection.
- The efficacy of antibiotic therapy for post-Q fever fatigue syndrome remains understudied, particularly in Mediterranean regions.
Observation:
- This case series describes three patients diagnosed with post-Q fever fatigue syndrome, meeting CDC criteria for CFS.
- Two patients had positive IgA antibodies to phase I Coxiella burnetii; one did not.
- Initial antibiotic treatment in the acute phase varied, followed by extended therapy with intracellular antibiotics for the fatigue syndrome.
Findings:
- Two of three patients showed improvement with prolonged antibiotic treatment (fluoroquinolones and tetracycline).
- The presence of IgA antibodies to Coxiella burnetii is not essential for diagnosing Q fever-related CFS.
- Antibiotic therapy demonstrates potential efficacy in managing post-Q fever fatigue syndrome.
Implications:
- These findings suggest Coxiella burnetii infection may play a role in the development of chronic fatigue syndrome.
- This report is the first on post-Q fever fatigue syndrome in Mediterranean countries.
- Further investigation is warranted to establish optimal antibiotic treatment protocols for this condition.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Fatigue
Fatigue occurs when materials rupture under repeated or fluctuating loads, even at stress levels far below their static breaking strength. It typically results in brittle failure, even for ductile materials. It is a critical consideration in designing machines and structural components subjected to repetitive or varying loads. The nature of these loadings can range from fluctuating loads like unbalanced pump impellers causing vibrations to repeatedly bending a thin steel rod wire back and forth...
01:27Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The symptoms vary widely, encompassing asymptomatic presentations to severe, acute manifestations.Clinical PresentationAsymptomatic cases: In some instances, myocarditis may be asymptomatic, with the infection resolving without intervention. These cases often go undetected unless discovered incidentally through diagnostic imaging or tests conducted for other reasons.General Early Symptoms: Early symptoms of myocarditis are non-specific and can...
01:23Chronic Pharyngitis
Chronic pharyngitis refers to persistent inflammation of the pharyngial mucosa.
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Understanding the variety of primary symptoms and systemic complications that characterize chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is crucial for healthcare professionals.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:19Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term condition marked by persistent and only partially reversible airflow limitation. It involves two overlapping conditions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—which often co-appear but differ in dominant symptoms and underlying mechanisms.Chronic Bronchitis FeaturesChronic bronchitis presents with a persistent productive cough and thick, sometimes purulent mucus due to airway inflammation, enlarged mucus glands, and goblet cell...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.