Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial infection spread by ticks. There are five distinct species of bacteria that cause the condition which act in the same manner. The bacteria directly attack white blood cells, making the condition a particular threat to the usual mechanisms used by the immune system. This can result in secondary opportunistic infections such as candidiasis. In severe cases, the bacteria's effect on the immune system can cause toxic shock, leading to death. However, this is rare and usually occurs in patients who are already immunocompromised.
Like many tick-borne diseases, the condition causes fever, joint pain and muscle pain. However, in ehrlichiosis, these follow a regular cycle - symptoms start in the early evening, peak at night, and disappear by the following morning with a period of roughly 12 hours where the patient is asymptomatic.
The condition responds well to antibiotics in the tetracycline family.
Erlichiosis at Wikipedia
Category:Diseases
Category:Infection