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.

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this infection are:

Being in areas known to have ticks
Spending time in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, and Southcentral United States
Having a weakened immune system

Symptoms

It may take 1 to 2 weeks for symptoms to happen. The first symptoms are like the flu:

Fever
Chills
Muscle and joint aches
Headaches

Some people may also have a rash.

Headache and Neck Stiffness

Diagnosis

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.

Treatment

Ehrlichiosis is treated with antibiotics.

Prevention

To lower the chance of this infection:

Avoid tick-infested areas.
Wear light-colored clothing to better locate a crawling tick.
Tuck pants into socks when in tick-infested habitats.
Regularly inspect and remove ticks from the body when in tick-infested habitats.
Remove ticks using fine-tipped tweezers by grasping the tick close to the skin’s surface and pulling upward steadily.
Disinfect tick bites with soap and water.
Use tick repellents.

RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html

Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

References:

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:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated September 19, 2017. Accessed November 25, 2019.

Ehrlichiosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
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
Last Updated: 5/27/2020

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