Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacteria Ehrlichiae . Ehrlichiosis infections can range from a very mild illness with no symptoms to a severe, life-threatening or fatal disease. Ehrlichiosis is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick.
Infected ticks can be deer ticks , dog ticks , and lone star ticks .
There is no evidence to suggest that the disease can be spread from person to person. The symptoms of Ehrlichiosis usually begin one to three weeks after a tick bite. The most common symptoms are fever, muscle aches, weakness, and headache. Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are also common. A blood test is required to determine if a person is infected with Ehrlichiosis.