Overview
What are the possible complications of ehrlichiosis?
What are causes of ehrlichiosis?
What should patients with ehrlichiosis be educated about?
Which patient groups are at highest risk for ehrlichiosis?
What is the prevalence of ehrlichiosis in the US?
What is the global prevalence of ehrlichiosis?
What are the sexual predilections of ehrlichiosis?
What are age-related demographics of ehrlichiosis?
What is the prognosis of ehrlichiosis?
Presentation
Which clinical history findings are characteristic of ehrlichiosis?
Which physical findings are characteristic of ehrlichiosis?
DDX
How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed?
How is ehrlichiosis differentiated from Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)?
How is ehrlichiosis differentiated from viral or bacterial meningitis?
Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnosis for ehrlichiosis?
What are the differential diagnoses for Ehrlichiosis?
Workup
What is the role of lumbar puncture in the diagnosis of ehrlichiosis?
What is the role of a buffy coat smear in the diagnosis of ehrlichiosis?
What is the role of lab testing in the diagnosis of ehrlichiosis?
Treatment
How is ehrlichiosis prevented?
Which specialist consultation is beneficial to patients with ehrlichiosis?
Medications
Which medications are used in the treatment of ehrlichiosis?
Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Ehrlichiosis?
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Female Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, found in the southeastern and Midatlantic United States. It is a vector of several zoonotic diseases, including human monocytic ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Courtesy of the CDC/Michael L. Levin, PhD.
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Map of the United States showing the distribution of the Lone Star Tick, which is the principle vector for ehrlichiosis.
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Established and reported distribution of anaplasmosis vectors Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus, by county, in the United States from 1907-1996. Courtesy of the Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Anaplasmosis incidence by age. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Ehrlichiosis incidence by age. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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This graph displays the number of human cases of ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) annually from 2000 through 2016. *From 2000 to 2008, ehrlichiosis was included in the reporting category “human monocytic ehrlichiosis” in reports to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). **Since 2008, ehrlichiosis has been reported to the NNDSS under the categories “Ehrlichia chaffeensis infections,” “Ehrlichia ewingii infections,” and “Undetermined ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis infections”, which include infections caused by Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis. Only E chaffeensis infections are shown above. Courtesy of the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis/stats/index.html).
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This graph shows the number of ehrlichiosis cases caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis reported from 2000 through 2016 by month of onset to illustrate the seasonal trends. Cases are reported in each month of the year, although most are reported in June and July. Courtesy of the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis/stats/index.html).
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This graph shows the number of US ehrlichiosis cases caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and reported to the CDC from 2000 to 2018. Courtesy of the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis/stats/).