Hi Courtney - I'm sorry to hear that you're having severe joint pain, and that you've been dealing with both the pain and so much uncertainty. You mention seeing a doctor who said you made up the pain and ignored your concerns, and then seeing a doctor again. Are you saying you saw the same doctor again? If so, I'm wondering if you can see a different doctor and get a fresh start with one who will take your concerns seriously.
The Centers for Disease Control define Ehrlichiosis as the general name used to describe several bacterial diseases that affect animals and humans. These diseases are caused by the organisms in the genus Ehrlichia. Worldwide, there are currently four ehrlichial species that are known to cause disease in humans.
In the United States, ehrlichiae are transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) are known vectors of ehrlichiosis in the United States. Ixodes ricinus is the primary vector in Europe.
According to the CDC there have been cases where people have been treated for ehrlichiosis and then become re-infected. Is it possible that you're being exposed to the ticks that cause ehrlichiosis and becoming reinfected?
Please take a look at the following link for more information on US exposure areas. If you're not in the US let me know and I will research your area.
I'm going to post the CDC's treatment recommendations - were you treated this way?
Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be initiated immediately when there is a strong suspicion of ehrlichiosis on the basis of clinical and epidemiologic findings. Treatment should not be delayed until laboratory confirmation is obtained. Fever generally subsides within 24-72 hours after treatment with doxycycline or other tetracyclines. In fact, failure to rapidly respond to a tetracycline antibiotic argues against a diagnosis of ehrlichiosis. Preventative therapy in non-ill patients who have had recent tick bites is not warranted.
Doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for adults or 4.4 mg/kg body weight per day in two divided doses for children under 45.4 kgs (100 lbs)) is the drug of choice for patients with ehrlichiosis. The optimal duration of therapy has not been established, but current regimens recommend continuation of treatment for at least 3 days after the fever subsides and until evidence of clinical improvement, for a minimum total course of 5 to 7 days. Severe or complicated disease may require longer treatment courses.
Please let us know the answers to the questions above, and your thoughts about your situation after you read the reference material. We will then have a better idea of next steps to recommend.
Take care,
Pat
Comment Reply
Hi Courtney - I'm sorry to hear that you're having severe joint pain, and that you've been dealing with both the pain and so much uncertainty. You mention seeing a doctor who said you made up the pain and ignored your concerns, and then seeing a doctor again. Are you saying you saw the same doctor again? If so, I'm wondering if you can see a different doctor and get a fresh start with one who will take your concerns seriously.
The Centers for Disease Control define Ehrlichiosis as the general name used to describe several bacterial diseases that affect animals and humans. These diseases are caused by the organisms in the genus Ehrlichia. Worldwide, there are currently four ehrlichial species that are known to cause disease in humans.
In the United States, ehrlichiae are transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) are known vectors of ehrlichiosis in the United States. Ixodes ricinus is the primary vector in Europe.
According to the CDC there have been cases where people have been treated for ehrlichiosis and then become re-infected. Is it possible that you're being exposed to the ticks that cause ehrlichiosis and becoming reinfected?
Please take a look at the following link for more information on US exposure areas. If you're not in the US let me know and I will research your area.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/ehrlichia/q&a/q&a.htm
I'm going to post the CDC's treatment recommendations - were you treated this way?
Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be initiated immediately when there is a strong suspicion of ehrlichiosis on the basis of clinical and epidemiologic findings. Treatment should not be delayed until laboratory confirmation is obtained. Fever generally subsides within 24-72 hours after treatment with doxycycline or other tetracyclines. In fact, failure to rapidly respond to a tetracycline antibiotic argues against a diagnosis of ehrlichiosis. Preventative therapy in non-ill patients who have had recent tick bites is not warranted.
Doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for adults or 4.4 mg/kg body weight per day in two divided doses for children under 45.4 kgs (100 lbs)) is the drug of choice for patients with ehrlichiosis. The optimal duration of therapy has not been established, but current regimens recommend continuation of treatment for at least 3 days after the fever subsides and until evidence of clinical improvement, for a minimum total course of 5 to 7 days. Severe or complicated disease may require longer treatment courses.
Please let us know the answers to the questions above, and your thoughts about your situation after you read the reference material. We will then have a better idea of next steps to recommend.
January 22, 2010 - 6:55pmTake care,
Pat
This Comment
Reply