Guide To Treating And Preventing Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis is an illness caused by the bacteria ticks can carry. The symptoms can be mild, like body aches, or severe, like a high fever. The symptoms usually present within a week or so of being bitten by the tick. If patients catch it quickly, they can expect improvement within a few days. Patients need to consult a doctor if they think they have been bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria that can cause ehrlichiosis. Individuals may not realize they have been bitten, but if they start developing symptoms or a rash, they should see a doctor, especially if they have been out in the woods or brush recently.

Apply Tick Repellent

If individuals are going on an outing where they will be in the woods or surrounded by brush, it is important to apply tick repellent. Keeping ticks off of the body will help prevent illnesses caused by bites, including ehrlichiosis. Tick repellents should contain DEET (diethyltoluamide) or permethrin. This creates a barrier between the individual and the ticks, so they cannot bite. However, individuals can also use cedar oil if they want a natural option. Cedar oil can make a tick disintegrate completely if it is used on an early stage tick. Individuals can make a spray out of the oil and take it with them on their wooded excursions. Being prepared and protected will help individuals avoid the diseases ticks can carry. They need to be diligent and make sure they are thorough in their application of tick repellent.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

It is important to wear appropriate clothing when going camping, hiking, or any place where there might be ticks. Ticks like to hide in crevices of clothing and on the body. So, individuals need to be careful about what they are wearing because they want to be able to see if there are ticks on their clothing. Individuals should wear long pants tucked into their socks, and their shoes should be closed and tight. Another tip would be to wear light-colored clothing because it will be easier to see ticks should they get on them. Some kinds of tick repellents can also be added to clothing. Some companies will even apply the repellent to the clothes individuals send them. Of course, individuals still have to make sure they apply tick repellent to any exposed body areas so the ticks are deterred from biting them.

Remove Ticks Promptly

Removing ticks promptly stops them from continuing to pump their toxins and disease into the individual they have attached themselves to. It is important to remove ticks with a steady pulling motion. so no part of the tick remains in or on the skin. Any part of the tick remaining can cause further problems and increases the risk of being infected with conditions like ehrlichiosis. When individuals come home after an outing where they may have been exposed to ticks, it is important to take a shower because some crawling ticks may not be visible immediately. Doing a body search and taking a shower might allow individuals to find a tick and get rid of it before it bites.

Clean And Monitor Tick Bites

Sometimes ticks will end up biting anyways, but all hope is not lost. It is important to clean and monitor tick bites, so if they look infected or agitated, individuals can seek medical intervention quickly. Cleaning the area is important because it can reduce the chance for infection from other sources. Patients would clean it like any other wound, including using a disinfectant. However, as previously stated, it is important to completely remove the tick by grasping and pulling it. Patients should not use petroleum jelly or a hot match to remove it. They also want to look for any kind of rash and for any other symptoms that might accompany a bacterial infection, especially after tick bites.

Course Of Antibiotics

Since ehrlichiosis is a bacterial illness, part of treatment will probably include a course of antibiotics. In fact, administering antibiotics should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis. The medication of choice to treat ehrlichiosis is doxycycline, which is a tetracycline. There are, of course, other antibiotics that can and have been used, like rifampin. What is important is the doctor treats a tick bite with the antibiotics for effective relief from ehrlichiosis. Quick treatment will allow patients to enjoy a quicker dissipation of symptoms and suffer less than if they do not take them.