Ehrlichiosis

Tick borne disease: Ehrlichiosis

Also known as: Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis

Disease Agent: Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis

Infectious Bite Time: A tick infected with ehrlichiosis usually needs to remain attached to you for more than 24 hours for transmission to occur.

Incubation Period: the onset of impacts from ehrlichiosis will begin 5 to 14 days after infection.

Common Signs and Symptoms: Ehrlichiosis symptoms include high chills, fever, muscle pain, impaired mental state, rash, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, confusion, nausea, vomiting, anorexia

Serious Complications: kidney failure, respiratory problems, death

Treatment Options: Health care options are available. Doxycycline is an antibiotic that has been used to treat ehrlichiosis. If you believe you have contracted ehrlichiosis consult a medical professional, early diagnosis is essential to preventing serious complications, delaying treatment can make a bad situation worse, resulting in escalated symptom severity or even death.

Notes and Facts: Ehrlichiosis is a serious and potentially fatal condition. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems may be at a higher risk for serious complications from this disease, especially those older than 70 years of age. Most ehrlichiosis fatalities occur in extremely young or old individuals. Instances of ehrlichiosis are most common on the East Coast, in Texas, and other areas infested by the lone star tick, including the states of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. You cannot simply look at a tick and determine if it is infected with ehrlichiosis, if a tick is attached to you learn how to remove a tick and keep the tick, it can be tested for ehrlichiosis. Use Tick Proof to prevent future attacks.

What ticks transmit Ehrlichiosis? American dog tick, Eastern Blacklegged tick, Western Blacklegged tick, “deer tick”, Lone Star tick

Primary Vector: Lone Star tick

Number of infections reported per year, United States: 1500+

The Lone Star tick (below) transmits Ehrlichiosis.