What Happens When People Get Ehrlichiosis?
Labels Ehrlichiosis
Most cases of ehrlichiosis are associated with mild flu-like symptoms,
such as fever, chills, headaches, muscle or joint pain, nausea and vomiting,
cough, stomach pain, and sore throat. Other cases may have diarrhea
(frequent, soft or watery bowel movements), skin rashes, or confusion
(trouble thinking). Some people with the infection show no symptoms at
all. Symptoms usually start within two weeks after a tick bite but can take
up to a month to appear.
Because ehrlichiosis shares many symptoms with Lyme disease and
other infections transmitted by ticks, diagnosis based on symptoms alone
can be difficult. Blood tests are done to look for evidence of Ehrlichia
infection, such as antibodies to the bacteria or the presence of the germ
itself in the blood.
If treated early, ehrlichiosis responds very well to certain antibiotics.
As a result, doctors often treat this disease presumptively, meaning that
patients who have had tick exposure and who have fevers, low white blood
cell count, and decreased platelets are often treated with appropriate antibiotics
even before the diagnose has been definitively confirmed in the
laboratory. Over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen can help
lower fever and relieve pain. Usually, people recover from mild cases of
ehrlichiosis soon after finishing a week of antibiotic treatment. About onehalf
of all patients need treatment in the hospital, in part due to a lack of
diagnosis of ehrlichiosis and in part due to increased severity of illness.
Although many cases of ehrlichiosis are mild, the infection can
become serious if it is not diagnosed and treated early. Some people who
get ehrlichiosis develop anemia and inflammation of the liver and kidneys.
Breathing problems, internal bleeding, encephalitis (en-seh-fuh-
LYE-tis; brain inflammation), and seizures can also develop. People with
weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV infection, certain
types of cancer, or the elderly, tend to develop more severe symptoms and
complications. For these people, ehrlichiosis can be fatal.
such as fever, chills, headaches, muscle or joint pain, nausea and vomiting,
cough, stomach pain, and sore throat. Other cases may have diarrhea
(frequent, soft or watery bowel movements), skin rashes, or confusion
(trouble thinking). Some people with the infection show no symptoms at
all. Symptoms usually start within two weeks after a tick bite but can take
up to a month to appear.
Because ehrlichiosis shares many symptoms with Lyme disease and
other infections transmitted by ticks, diagnosis based on symptoms alone
can be difficult. Blood tests are done to look for evidence of Ehrlichia
infection, such as antibodies to the bacteria or the presence of the germ
itself in the blood.
If treated early, ehrlichiosis responds very well to certain antibiotics.
As a result, doctors often treat this disease presumptively, meaning that
patients who have had tick exposure and who have fevers, low white blood
cell count, and decreased platelets are often treated with appropriate antibiotics
even before the diagnose has been definitively confirmed in the
laboratory. Over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen can help
lower fever and relieve pain. Usually, people recover from mild cases of
ehrlichiosis soon after finishing a week of antibiotic treatment. About onehalf
of all patients need treatment in the hospital, in part due to a lack of
diagnosis of ehrlichiosis and in part due to increased severity of illness.
Although many cases of ehrlichiosis are mild, the infection can
become serious if it is not diagnosed and treated early. Some people who
get ehrlichiosis develop anemia and inflammation of the liver and kidneys.
Breathing problems, internal bleeding, encephalitis (en-seh-fuh-
LYE-tis; brain inflammation), and seizures can also develop. People with
weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV infection, certain
types of cancer, or the elderly, tend to develop more severe symptoms and
complications. For these people, ehrlichiosis can be fatal.
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