Ehrlichiosis - Medtick

Ehrlichiosis

What is it?

A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that causes flu-like symptoms.

  • A tick carrying the bacterium that causes ehrlichiosis has been feeding on you for at least 24 hours.
  • Flu-like signs and symptoms may appear — usually within seven to 14 days of the bite.
  • Most ticks attach themselves to your lower legs and feet as you walk or work in grassy, wooded areas or overgrown fields. After a tick attaches to your body, it usually crawls upward to find a location to burrow into your skin.
  • You may find a tick on the back of your knees, groin, underarms, ears, back of your neck and elsewhere.

Cause

  • Feeding of 24 hours of the Lone Star tick  (notice white spot on tick)
  • Infected white-tailed deer
  • Infected coyote
  • From mother to foetus
  • Direct contact with an infected, slaughtered animal

Treatments

  • Blood transfusions

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Nausea and Vomiting?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Loss of appetite?
  • Joint stiffness and pain?
  • Confusion?
  • Rash?
  • Have initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks and/or breathing difficulties?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can be confused with and/or may show similar symptom to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Ehrlichiosis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).