OUR SERVICES
Men's Health
Our doctors provide a comprehensive range of men’s health services designed to support your overall well-being at every stage of life. We take a proactive and personalised approach to help identify and manage common health concerns early, promoting long-term health and quality of life.
Our services include mental health assessments, evaluation of diabetes risk, and confidential care for concerns related to men’s intimate health and wellbeing. We also offer important screening tests for prostate and bowel cancers, cholesterol monitoring to assess cardiovascular health, and blood pressure checks.
Additionally, we provide support for weight management, smoking cessation, and lifestyle advice to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Testosterone level testing and management are available for men experiencing symptoms related to hormone imbalances or ageing.
How does Q Fever Spread?
It is mainly spread from animals to humans via inhalation of infected particles in the air. Other routes of infection include:
- direct contact with infected animals,
- contact with infected animal products such as birth products (placenta), milk, urine, faeces, wool and hides,
- and contact with contaminated material such as soil, grass, straw, and clothes.
Cattle, sheep and goats are the main sources of human infection, but certain native and feral mammals (e.g. kangaroos, bandicoots, rats, horses, camels), as well as domestic animals such as cats and dogs, may also be implicated.
Most infected animals do not show symptoms or get sick. They can shed the bacteria in their urine, faeces, milk, wool and birth products which can subsequently contaminate surrounding material such as aerosols, soil, dust, grass, straw, clothes, hair. The bacterium is highly infective and resistant, capable of withstanding harsh conditions for long periods of time.
The risk factors explained
It causes flu-like symptoms which can include abrupt onset of fever, malaise, profuse perspiration, severe headache, myalgia (muscle pain), joint pain, loss of appetite, upper respiratory problems, dry cough, pleuritic pain, chills, confusion and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The disease can progress to an atypical pneumonia, which can result in a life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Less often, it causes (granulomatous) hepatitis, which may be asymptomatic or becomes symptomatic with malaise, fever, liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
The chronic form is virtually identical to inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis), which can occur months or decades following the infection. It is usually fatal if untreated.
Post Q Fever Fatigue Syndrome – About 10% of patients who are sick with an acute case go on to suffer from a chronic-fatigue-like illness involving extreme ongoing tiredness and other symptoms which can be very debilitating. This can last for years after the initial virus was contacted.
Who should get a vaccination?
People who work with animals and animal products and waste are at risk of being infected, especially new workers and visitors to animal-related industries.
Meat workers who work exclusively with pigs and town butchers working with dressed carcasses are not considered to be at an increased risk.
Typical at-risk workers include, but not limited to:
- abattoir workers, contractors and visitors to abattoirs
- cattle, sheep and goat farmers and graziers
- dairy industry workers and those who work with raw milk
- shearers and wool classers
- transporters of livestock, animal products and waste
- other people exposed to cattle, sheep, goats, camels, native wildlife, and animal products and waste.
The risk of infection is significant, as:
- It is very infectious and people can become infected from inhaling just a few bacteria
- large numbers of bacteria are shed by infected animals
- the bacteria can survive in the environment for long periods, tolerate harsh conditions and spread in the air.
Treatment
Fortunately, Australia has a vaccine to protect you.
Q Fever Australia uses the safe and effective (Q-VAX®) vaccine to prevent infection in individuals. The vaccination is highly recommended for people who work or intend to work in high-risk occupations. Vaccination is also recommended for everyone aged 15 years and over who has the potential to be exposed during activities outside of work, or in the environments in which they live or visit.
Prior to immunisation, we will undertake both a blood and skin test (Q-VAX® Skin Test) to ascertain if the individual has previously been exposed – either naturally or by previous vaccination.
The skin test will be interpreted by a Doctor seven days after the test is administered. Combined with the blood test results, the Doctor will determine if you are susceptible to the Bacteria and if you need a vaccination.
Note the vaccination can only be given to individuals 15 years of age and over.
Q Fever vaccination Medicare
Testing and vaccination requires 2 long (30 minute) appointments 7 days apart with one of our registered doctors. These services are NOT covered by Medicare and private fees apply for all patients.