Ehrlichiosis Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Ehrlichiosis?

Ehrlichiosis is a tickborne bacterial infection, caused by bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae, genera Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. These bacteria infect and kill white blood cells.
The signs and symptoms of ehrlichiosis range from mild body aches to severe fever and usually appear within a week or two of a tick bites.
If treated quickly with appropriate antibiotics, ehrlichiosis generally improves within a few days.
Without prompt treatment, ehrlichiosis can have serious effects.
Moreover, People with weakened immune systems are at an even higher risk of more-serious and potentially life-threatening consequences.

Serious complications of untreated infection include:

Kidney failure
Respiratory failure
Heart failure
Seizures
Coma

Causes Of Ehrlichiosis:

Ehrlichiosis is caused by ehrlichia bacteria and is transmitted primarily by the Lone Star tick.
Ticks feed on blood, and during feeding, ticks that carry disease-producing bacteria can transmit the bacteria to a healthy host.
Being bitten by an infected tick is usually the cause of developing ehrlichiosis.
Before bacteria can be transmitted, a tick must be attached and feeding for at least 24 hours. An attached tick with a swollen appearance may have been feeding long enough to have transmitted bacteria.

Other possible modes of transmission include:

Blood transfusion (from someone infected with ehrlichiosis)
An infected mother can pass it on the fetus
Direct contact with an infected, slaughtered animal

The Following Factors Increase The Risk Of Developing Ehrlichiosis:

Being outdoors in warm weather.
Living in or visiting an area with a high tick population.
Being male.

Symptoms Of Ehrlichiosis:

Signs and symptoms may include:

Mild fever
Headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Joint pain
Confusion
Rash
Cough
Diarrhea
Fine pinhead-sized areas of bleeding in the skin (petechial rash)
Flat red rash (maculopapular rash) (uncommon)
General ill feeling (malaise)

Diagnosis Of Ehrlichiosis:

The following tests help confirm the diagnosis:

Blood test

If infected with ehrlichiosis, blood test will show:

   Abnormal liver function
   Low white blood cell count
   Low platelet count

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, to identify specific genes unique to ehrlichiosis.
Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test, to measure the amount of antibody to the bacteria present in the body
Granulocyte stain

Treatment Of Ehrlichiosis:

Ehrlichiosis can be treated through medications.
Doxycycline and minocycline are the medications of choice. For people allergic to antibiotics of the tetracycline class, rifampin is an alternative.

Common measures to prevent tick bites include: