Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis
The lone star tick, which is one of three ticks that can spread Ehrlichiosis. It is characterized by the white dot on its back.[1]
SpecialtyInfectious diseases Edit this on Wikidata
SymptomsFever, chills, severe headaches, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, confusion, and splotchy or pinpoint rash. More severe symptoms include brain or nervous system damage, respiratory failure, uncontrollable bleeding, organ failure, and death.[2]
CausesBite from an infected tick
Risk factorsAge, being immunocompromised, having received an organ transplant, and certain medications

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne[3] bacterial infection,[4] caused by bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae, genera Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. These obligate intracellular bacteria infect and kill white blood cells.

The average reported annual incidence is on the order of 2.3 cases per million people.[5]

  1. ^ CDC (2019-01-17). "Ehrlichiosis home | CDC". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  2. ^ CDC (2019-01-17). "Signs and symptoms of ehrlichiosis | CDC". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  3. ^ "Ehrlichiosis". Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 15 November 2013.
  4. ^ Dawson JE, Marty AM (1997). "Ehrlichiosis". In Horsburgh C, Nelson A (eds.). Pathology of emerging Infections. Vol. 1. American Society for Microbiology Press. ISBN 1555811205.
  5. ^ Goddard J (September 1, 2008). "What Is New With Ehrlichiosis?". Infections in Medicine.