Coxiella burnetii: an unusual ENT pathogen

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a prevalent zoonotic disease manifestating usually as atypical pneumonia or hepatitis. We describe 2 cases of serologically proven infection by Coxiella burnetii whose primary manifestations arose from the upper respiratory tract and were initial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of otolaryngology 2004-07, Vol.25 (4), p.263-265
Main Authors: Pappas, Georgios, Giannoutsos, Christos, Christou, Leonidas, Tsianos, Epaminondas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antibodies, Bacterial - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Coxiella burnetii - immunology
Coxiella burnetii - pathogenicity
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G - blood
Immunoglobulin M - blood
Laryngitis - microbiology
Lymphatic Diseases - microbiology
Male
Medical sciences
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Q Fever - blood
Q Fever - diagnosis
Q Fever - immunology
Respiratory Tract Infections - blood
Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology
Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology
Tonsillitis - microbiology
Transaminases - blood
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Summary:Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a prevalent zoonotic disease manifestating usually as atypical pneumonia or hepatitis. We describe 2 cases of serologically proven infection by Coxiella burnetii whose primary manifestations arose from the upper respiratory tract and were initially referred to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department. This is the first related report in medical literature. A 20-year-old woman with fever, bilateral tonsillitis, lymphadenopathy, and mild aminotransferase elevation, and a 30-year old man with spiking fever and laryngitis are presented. Diagnosis in both cases was achieved through evolving serological response to Coxiella burnetii. The importance of including the pathogen in the differential diagnosis of ENT patients, in assorted epidemiological settings, and the significance of the proper antibiotic selection are further discussed.
ISSN:0196-0709
1532-818X
DOI:10.1016/j.amjoto.2004.01.006