Ehrlichiosis is an infection passed through a tick bite. It can be deadly unless medicine is taken to treat it.
Ehrlichiosis is caused by specific bacteria. The bacteria are passed through the bite of a tick. The lonestar tick, deer tick, and dog tick are linked with this infection.
Things that may raise the risk of this infection are:
It may take 1 to 2 weeks for symptoms to happen. The first symptoms are like the flu:
Some people may also have a rash.
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. You will be asked if you have spent time in areas known for ticks. A physical exam will be done.
A blood test may be done to check for signs of ehrlichiosis.
Ehrlichiosis is treated with antibiotics.
To lower the chance of this infection:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html
Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Biggs HM, Behravesh CB, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Tickborne Rickettsial Diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Ehrlichioses, and Anaplasmosis - United States. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016 May 13;65(2):1-44.
Ehrlichiosis. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/ehrlichiosis.html. Updated September 19, 2017. Accessed November 25, 2019.
Ehrlichiosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis. Updated January 17, 2019. Accessed November 25, 2019.
Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/ehrlichiosis-and-anaplasmosis. Updated December 9, 2016. Accessed November 25, 2019.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD