Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
Overview
A rare infectious condition caused by infection with a type of bacteria called Ehrlichia (Anaplasma phagocytophilia) which attack granulocytes (a type of white blood cell). The infection is transmitted by the deer and American dog tick
Symptoms
* Fever * Headache * Muscle pain * Chills * Anemia
Causes
Ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia organisms, specifically E. chaffeensis and granulocytic Ehrlichia. Known vectors include the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and deer ticks (Ixodes dammini and Ixodes scapularis).
Diagnosis
Clinically, HGE is essentially indistinguishable from Human monocytic ehrlichiosis, the infection caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and other tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease may be suspected. As Erlichia serologies can be negative in the acute period, PCR is very useful for diagnosis.[8]
Treatment
Ehrlichiosis is treated with tetracycline or doxycycline, producing rapid improvement when used early in the disease's course. Death can occur if treatment is delayed. PEDIATRIC TIP Oral tetracycline usually isn’t prescribed for children until all permanent teeth have erupted because it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.