Sat Mar 9, 1:02 PM News
REGION – Since the Q fever epidemic (2007 to 2010), between 50,000 and 100,000 people have been infected with Q fever. Thousands of people became ill and many still have serious health problems to this day. They have chronic Q fever or Q fever fatigue syndrome (QVS).
Chronic Q fever is not always recognized as such. General practices in the Helmond region are currently inviting people with certain risk factors for developing chronic Q fever to undergo the Q-screen; a regional population survey to detect chronic Q fever. This means they can receive the right treatment quickly.
Less than 2% of people who have ever been infected have chronic Q fever. The living Q fever bacteria are still present in their bodies. This can cause life-threatening inflammation of vessels and heart valves, without causing many complaints at first. In the Netherlands, there have been at least 117 deaths due to chronic diabetes since 2007
Q fever. Early detection and long-term treatment with a combination of antibiotics can prevent death.
About 20% of people who become ill with Q fever have long-term complaints of severe chronic fatigue. Fatigue is accompanied by a range of other complaints such as memory problems, loss of concentration, sleep problems, stomach and intestinal complaints, muscle and joint pain and headaches. With QVS, the Q fever bacteria are no longer present in the body. The cause of the long-term complaints is unknown and there is no treatment yet.
To detect people with as yet unrecognized chronic Q fever, general practices within a radius of 5 kilometers around goat farms that were seriously infected during the Q fever epidemic can participate in the Q-screen. They select patients with conditions that pose a higher risk of developing chronic Q fever. They receive an invitation to have their blood tested by Innatoss Laboratories from Oss. This company sets up temporary test stations at participating practices. If an infection is suspected, patients are referred to a Q fever specialist in the hospital.
The Bakelse general practice ‘t Heelhuis is currently participating in our municipality. following general practices. A number of Helmond practices in this region were also involved in the research. Together they invite around 1,500 people to have their blood tested. This happens on various days in March and April.
The Q-screen is carried out on behalf of the RIVM by Q-support, an organization that supports and advises Q fever patients. Knowing more? Visit www.q-support.nu/q-screen. The Q-screen is (partly) made possible by the health insurers CZ and VGZ on behalf of all health insurers
2024-03-09 12:02:00
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