Ehrlichiosis Fact
Sheet
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of this Fact Sheet
Ehrlichiosis (Er-lick-key-osis) is caused by
the bacteria called Ehrlichia
There are two forms of human ehrlichiosis: Human Monocytic
Ehrlichiosis (HME) caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and
Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE) caused by bacteria
similar to Ehrlichia equi and Ehrlichia phagocytophilia.
You can't catch ehrlichiosis from another person—you
get it by a tick bite from an infected tick
Infected tick bites of the Lone Star tick, the blacklegged
or deer tick, and the American dog tick cause disease
in humans. Not every tick bite causes disease.
Anyone can get ehrlichiosis
People may be exposed when they spend time outdoors in
tick-infested areas (such as wooded, brushy, or grassy
places). Pets may also bring ticks into the house as another
possible means of exposure.
Symptoms appear 5 to 10 days after a tick bite
People with ehrlichiosis usually have flu-like symptoms
such as fever, headache, tiredness, and muscle aches.
Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite,
diarrhea, cough, joint pains, confusion, and sometimes
a rash. It is likely that many people who become infected
with the bacteria do not become sick or only get very
mild symptoms. However, some people may have severe disease
that can result in death.
Ehrlichiosis can be treated; see your doctor early
if you think you have it
Ehrlichiosis is treated with antibiotics.
You can prevent ehrlichiosis
- Avoid areas infested with ticks (woods, tall grassy
areas).
- Keep the grass in your yard cut; remove leaves and
leaf litter; clear brush from around houses.
- Use a tick repellent according to the directions
on the product label.
- Wear light-colored clothes to help spot ticks.
- Wear protective clothing (long pants and long-sleeved
shirts, tuck pant legs into socks, and tuck shirt into
pants) when working or playing in areas where you may
have frequent or prolonged exposure to ticks.
- Inspect your entire body (head to toe) for ticks
after being outdoors.
- Inspect your children and pets for ticks after they
have been outdoors.
- Remove an attached tick by grasping the tick close
to the skin surface and pulling straight back with steady
force; use pointed tweezers to grasp the tick. If fingers
must be used, protect bare hands with gloves, cloth,
or tissue. Do not squeeze the tick's body or use petroleum
jelly, lighted matches, cigarettes, or alcohol. Clean
the bite site after removing a tick as you would with
any minor wound, then wash your hands with soap and
water.
- Mark on your calendar when a tick is taken off your
body. This information will be useful to your doctor.
Household pets may carry ticks inside the home
- Try to prevent pets from going into areas infested
with ticks (e.g., woods, fields)
- Brush loose ticks off before letting pets into the
house.
- Remove all ticks in the same way as you would from
yourself.
- Talk to your veterinarian about tick control products.
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