What Are The Risk Factors And Complications Of Q Fever?

Impaired Kidney Function

Individuals who already have pre-existing impairment to their kidney function are at an increased risk of contracting Q fever. In addition, acute renal failure is a rare complication that may occur in individuals who have contracted Q fever. An individual has impaired kidney function when something causes their kidneys not to work as well as they should be. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood of waste products, excess nutrients, and excess fluid.

While the exact mechanism of how impaired kidney function increases an individual's risk for contracting Q fever is not clear, the close association between renal failure and vascular disease may help explain it. In addition, individuals who have compromised kidney function are not able to effectively eliminate cellular wastes and dead bacteria from their body. Their kidneys also do a poor job of removing any toxic byproducts produced by the interaction between the immune system and Coxiella burnettii. Having wastes and substances build up in the blood reduces the ability of the body to fight off Q fever.

Get the details on more complications and risk factors of Q fever now.