Question 1

what are the tests for ehrlichiosis?

Accepted Answer

Suspicion: There are different types of ehrlichiosis in the us: monocytic ehrlichiosis, ewingii ehrlichiosis and granulocytic anaplasmosis. All are caused by rickettsiae bacteria carried on ticks . The disease is diagnosed by history and exam and examining the white cell count and other common labs. There are antibody tests to confirm but can take time and rarely unreliable. It is better to begin treatment.

Question 2

what are the symptoms of ehrlichiosis?

Accepted Answer

See below: Common symptoms are fever, chills, headache, muscle or joint pain, vomiting, and acute weight loss.  Diarrhea, abdominal pain, cough, and rash occur less frequently.

Question 3

what sort of disorder is ehrlichiosis?

Accepted Answer

Ehrlichiosis: Ehrlichiosis is a tick borne bacterial illness that may cause headache, confusion, fever, chills, muscle or joint pain,nausea, vomiting, diarrhea &amp; decreased appetite. Rash is more likely to occur in children with red splotches or pinpoint lesions. If severe/ untreated it can cause respiratory or other organ failure, meningoencephalitis or uncontrolled bleeding.

Question 4

what is the treatment for ehrlichiosis?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Treatment depends on the age and stage of illness. If you are an adult and come from a high risk area for lymes disease then usually  a 14 day course of Doxycycline is used. If the patient is pregnant or a young child Amoxicillin is used as an alternative . For late stage treatment hospitalization is usually required, antibiotics given through veins and other symptoms managed.

Question 5

is there a vaccination available for human monocytic ehrlichiosis?

Accepted Answer

Not Yet: Human monocytic erlichiosis (hme) is caused by a bacteria in the erlichia family.  The disease which has fever, headaches, muscle ache, and fatigue as it's common symptoms is spread by several ticks.  Since we don't have a vaccine, avoiding tick bites with proper insect repellants (20% picardin or 30-35% deet), protective clothing, and tick removal is important.  It is treated with antibiotics.

Question 6

how do lyme and ehrlichiosis infections differ?

Accepted Answer

Different Germs: Two totally different germs.
Erilichiosis is caused by a ricketsial bacteria
lyme is caused by a borellia spirochete.
They both may have very similar symptoms, can be spread by the same ticks, and have similar treatment.  Erlichiosis does not cause the classic ecm  bullseye lyme rash.

Question 7

will lyme disease or ehrlichiosis effect the liver?

Accepted Answer

No and yes: Lyme -no, amd ehrlichia yes as abnormal liver tests can be seen.

Question 8

is the severe abdominal pain a effect of ehrlichiosis?  pain not like nausea but more pain like?  how old does that pain last once on the dixoy.

Accepted Answer

Pain may occur: GI sx's of Ehrlichiosis can include, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain (which can sometimes be severe), diarrhea &amp; sometimes jaundice.  GI hemorrhage is rare. REF:  https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/9/1206/462641  ** How long the abdrominal pain lasts will largely depend on what injury the GI tract has sustained.

Question 9

question about lyme disease and erlichiosis - where in the u.s. do you have to worry about these things?

Accepted Answer

See below:: Risk of lyme disease: northeast, from maine to northern virginia; upper midwest, including most of wisconsin, northern minnesota and a sliver of northern illinois. "emerging risk" regions: illinois-indiana border, the new york-vermont border, southwestern michigan & eastern n. Dakota. Ehrlichosis: southeastern & south-central United States, from the eastern seaboard to texas.

Question 10

could antibiotics used to treat a sinus infection have also successfully treated a concurrent erlichiosis infection?

Accepted Answer

ERLICHOSIS INFECTION: ERLICHOSIS INFECTION IS COMMONLY TREATED WITH DOXYCYCLINE,  MINOCYCLINE, AND RIFAMPIN.
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Cause of ehrlichiosis

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What are the tests for ehrlichiosis?

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What sort of disorder is ehrlichiosis?

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What is the treatment for ehrlichiosis?

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Is there a vaccination available for human monocytic ehrlichiosis?

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How do lyme and ehrlichiosis infections differ?

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Will lyme disease or ehrlichiosis effect the liver?

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Is the severe abdominal pain a effect of ehrlichiosis? pain not like nausea but more pain like? how old does that pain last once on the dixoy.

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Question about lyme disease and erlichiosis - where in the u.s. do you have to worry about these things?

A member asked:

Could antibiotics used to treat a sinus infection have also successfully treated a concurrent erlichiosis infection?

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