What are the risks?
The risk of infection with Q fever is very small. This obviously applies to pregnant women, but the risks after infection for pregnant women are slightly larger.
The RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) declared that pregnant women with Q fever a small increased risk of premature birth or miscarriage. Pregnant women also have a higher risk of getting chronic Q fever.
Goats avoid:
Pregnant women especially during the lambing period (February to May) the contact with dairy goats and dairy sheep should be avoided. Most Q fever bacteria are indeed secreted during birth. Farms are great source for them. A petting zoo visits have very small risk of Q fever.On a petting zoo are a lot less goats and sheep together that not all at once lambs, causing fewer bacteria in the air. Pregnant women may not have raw milk or eat dairy products. They must take after pasteurization or cooking because the bacteria inactive by that process.
Pregnant women farmers:
For pregnant women who are on a goat or sheep farm living, it is more difficult to avoid contact with the animals. They should not enter the stables. Even pregnant peasant woman should not have contact with other stray (domestic) animals on the farm, such as cats, dogs and birds. The clothing of people, who work with the goats or sheep, can be infected with the Q fever bacteria.Complaints:
Symptoms suggestive of Q fever have fever with headache or cough. But 50 percent of infected people have no symptoms. But pregnant women have higher percentage of symptoms. Pregnant women, who suffer from flu symptoms, should check up with doctor. The doctor can determine whether they have Q fever. The doctor can decide if blood is needed. Q fever, at an early stage can be treated with antibiotics. Pregnant women are safe from antibiotics.Following delivery to mother and child on Q fever controlled so that a treatment can take place. During pregnancy, the child cannot be infected with Q fever. In rare cases this may happen during childbirth or breastfeeding. Investigations and precise figures on the number of complications in pregnant women are missing.
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