The symptoms are often quite general but the infected individual is usually sick enough to seek medical attention. Ehrlichiosis can be fatal. Recovery takes three weeks. The organism is sensitive to tetracycline and treatment results in improvement in 24 to 48 hours. A granulocyte stain shows clumps of bacteria inside white blood cells.
Liver enzymes show elevated transaminase.
A fluorescent antibody test is positive for E. chaffeensis or granulocytic Ehrlichia. Treatment Rickettsial diseases, in general, are all responsive to a group of antibiotics belonging to the tetracyclines. Treatment with tetracycline or doxycycline produces rapid improvement. With treatment full recovery is expected. Complications Infection may damage many organ systems but typically the lungs and kidney are involved.