Chronic Q fever is rare and develops in what proportion of acute cases?

Chronic Q fever is rare and develops in what proportion of acute cases?

• A. <5%
• B. 50%
• C. 20-30%
• D. 100%

Answer: (A)

Chronic Q fever follows only a small fraction of acute Coxiella burnetii infections. While most acute cases resolve or present with mild illness, progression to chronic infection—most often endocarditis or vascular infection—occurs rarely, typically in patients with risk factors such as pre-existing valvular disease or prosthetic devices. The best descriptor is that chronic Q fever develops in less than 5% of acute cases, reflecting its rarity. Larger proportions listed in the other options would contradict how uncommon this progression is, and 100% would imply everyone with an acute infection becomes chronic, which isn’t the case.

Chronic Q fever follows only a small fraction of acute Coxiella burnetii infections. While most acute cases resolve or present with mild illness, progression to chronic infection—most often endocarditis or vascular infection—occurs rarely, typically in patients with risk factors such as pre-existing valvular disease or prosthetic devices. The best descriptor is that chronic Q fever develops in less than 5% of acute cases, reflecting its rarity. Larger proportions listed in the other options would contradict how uncommon this progression is, and 100% would imply everyone with an acute infection becomes chronic, which isn’t the case.