Complete Information on Ehrlichiosis with Treatment and Prevention

Ehrlichiosis are the general name which is used to describe different bacterial sicknesses which influence animals and people. These sicknesses are caused by the organisms in the type Ehrlichia.In the united states, ehrlichiae are transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The lone star tick, the blacklegged tick, and the western blacklegged tick are known vectors of ehrlichiosis in the united states. Most cases of ehrlichiosis are reported within the geographic distribution of the vector ticks. Occasionally, cases are reported from areas outside the distribution of the tick vector. The acute stage of the disease, occurring most often in the spring and summer, begins one to three weeks after infection and lasts for two to four weeks. Although people can get ehrlichiosis, dogs do not transmit the bacteria to humans; rather, ticks pass on the ehrlichia organism.

Two types human ehrlichiosis have been identified in the united states: human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The risk factors for ehrlichiosis can include be: current or playing in high grasses, living near an area with a lot tap and a having house animal that can bring tikhuis. Dogs get ehrlichiosis from the brown dog tick, which passes an ehrlichia organism into the bloodstream when it bites. It is also possible for dogs to become infected through a blood transfusion from an infected dog. The great majority of cases of ehrlichiosis are asymptomatic. Most cases present as mild-to-moderate acute febrile illnesses. Patients with severe ehrlichiosis may develop thrombocytopenia or disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can result in hemorrhage into the skin. Patients who are moderately to severely sick may be hospitalized for diagnosis and therapy.

 Symptoms typically appear after an incubation period of 5-10 days following the tick bite. These clinical features generally include fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. Other signs and symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, joint pains, confusion, and occasionally rash. Apply repellants to discourage tick attachment. Repellents containing permethrin can be sprayed on boots and clothing, and will last for several days. Repellents containing diethyl-m-toluamide can be applied to the skin, but will last only a few hours before reapplication is necessary.

A diagnosis of ehrlichiosis has been based on a combination clinical signs and symptoms and affirmative laboratory tests. Other laboratory findings expressed ehrlichiosis counts, low platelet count including the low white blood cell, with the liver enzyme which lifts. Limiting exposure to ticks reduces the likelihood of infection in persons exposed to tick-infested habitats. Prompt careful inspection of your body and removal of crawling or attached ticks is an important method of preventing disease. Treatment for ehrlichiosis involves the use of antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline for a period of at least six to eight weeks; response to the drugs may take one month. Biological control with fungi, parasitic nematodes, and parasitic wasps may play important roles in integrated tick control efforts. In addition, steroids may be indicated in severe cases in which the level of platelets is so low that the condition is life threatening.