Ehrlichiosis

This is a disease that in the beginning only affected animals, not humans. But since the 1950s, human cases have been reported more often after a bite from the tick.

The Ehrlichia bacteria can cause 2 major diseases among human beings, namely: human granulocytic ehrlichiosis and human monocytic ehrlichiosis.

The first one occurs when the bacteria starts to infect granulocytes. Granulocytes are specific cells involved in immune responses and allergies.

Monocytic ehrlichiosis only occurs when Ehrlichia species infect macrophages, also a type of immune cells.

These 2 diseases are very different but their symptoms are the same:

Symptoms: 1 to 30 days after the tick has bitten

-          fever

-          headache

-          aches

-          pains

-          constitutional symptoms

-          sometimes a rash

As in every tick borne disease it is very important to go to a doctor because when it is left untreated, it can lead to death.

Treatment: to treat Ehrlichiosis antibiotics (Doxycycline) are needed.