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Ehrlichiosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis; HME; Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis; HGE; Human granulocytic anaplasmosis; HGA

Symptoms:

The time between the tick bite and when symptoms occur is about 7 - 9 days. This is called the incubation period.

Symptoms may seem like the flu (influenza), and may include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Nausea
• Muscle aches

Other possible symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Malaise
• Rash , maculopapular
• Rash, petechial (fine pinhead-sized hemorrhages in the skin)

A rash appears in less than half of the cases. Sometimes, the disease may be mistaken for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The symptoms are often quite general, but the patient is sometimes sick enough to see a doctor.

Signs and tests:

The doctor will perform a physical exam and check your vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.

A complete blood count ( CBC ) shows decreased white blood cells, a condition called leukopenia. The platelet count will be low. This is called thrombocytopenia.

A granulocyte stain shows clumps of the ehrlichia bacteria inside white blood cells. Tests of liver function may show high levels of a substance called transaminase.

A fluorescent antibody test may be used to detect the specific type of bacteria that is causing the condition.

References:

Bratton RL. Tick-borne disease. Am Fam Physician . 2005; 71(12): 2323-30.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 5th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:2310-2315.

• Review Date: 3/6/2006
• Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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