Peripheral nervous system involvement in Q fever

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Neurology
• Zoonoses

Background:

• Q fever is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii.
• Acute Q fever commonly presents with fever, headache, pneumonia, or hepatitis.
• Neurological manifestations are uncommon, with peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement occurring in about 1% of cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and consolidate reported cases of peripheral nervous system involvement in Q fever.
• To provide clinicians with a concise overview of diagnosis and management strategies for Q fever-related PNS disorders.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of patients with peripheral nervous system involvement due to Coxiella burnetii.
• Analysis of clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Peripheral nervous system involvement in Q fever presents with diverse manifestations, including mononeuritis multiplex, plexopathy, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Diagnosis can be challenging due to the varied clinical presentations.
• Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to mitigate the risk of significant neurological sequelae.

Conclusions:

• Peripheral nervous system involvement is a rare but serious complication of Q fever.
• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for Q fever in patients presenting with unexplained neurological deficits.
• Effective management strategies are vital to improve patient outcomes and prevent long-term disability.