Signs and Symptoms of Anaplasmosis

Signs and Symptoms of Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by a bacterium known as (Anaplasma phagocytophilum). This is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. A tick bite is usually painless, and patients who develop anaplasmosis do not recollect being bitten. It can be a serious illness and even fatal if not treated correctly, even in healthy people. Although people of any age can be affected by anaplasmosis, it gets worse with age as immunity is compromised.The treatment of anaplasmosis should be done based on clinical signs and symptoms and can be confirmed by specialized laboratory tests. Treatment should never be delayed. 

Doxycycline is the first form of treatment given to adults and children of all ages and should be done immediately when anaplasmosis is detected. Doxycycline is the most effective in preventing complications. Patients must be treated for up to 3 days even after the fever subsides, standard duration for treatment is 7 to 14 days. Some patients might discomfort and headaches or weakness even after weeks of treatment. In case of life threatening allergies due to doxycycline and for pregnant patient’s physicians may need alternative antibiotics. Rifampin has been used successfully. Antibiotic treatment for a tick bite is not recommended to prevent anaplasmosis. The use of sulfa drugs during illness may make the severity of the infection even worse.

Signs and symptoms of Anaplasmosis become more severe in the aged people due to the weakness of the immune system than the younger ones. 

The symptoms which are mostly reported by the persons affected by this disease are described in brief in the following:

 

• ·         Fever: Body temperature gets higher than normal varies from 99°F to 103°F which can only controlled by using of some specific medicines.
• ·         Severe headache: Continuous pain in the head area is also present which may be mild to severe according to the severity of the disease.
• ·         Muscle aches: Muscles tend to pain and flexing or movements are restricted. The condition of the person who is affected by these diseases gets worse simultaneously with the advancement of this disease.
• ·         Chills and shaking: May experience a cold sensation and have shivers apart from normal conditions.
• ·         Nausea: A sick feeling within the system which is known as nausea present in the body of the patient.
• ·         Vomiting: Regurgitation occurs as body immunity begins to fall which finally leads to vomiting.
• ·         Loss of appetite: Not able to digest food and tastelessness is observed.
• ·         Weight loss: Abnormal drop in weight due to lower immunity and fewer intakes of food and fluids.
• ·         Abdominal Pain: Pain in the abdominal section arises due to weakness which is followed by pain in the joints or bone endings or cartilage due to weakness and decrease in immunity.
• ·         Cough& diarrhoea: Continuous irritation in the throat area arises due to the presence of the cough which is followed by abnormal loss of body liquids in the form of excretion, finally leads to diarrhoea.
• ·         This disease not only has physical signs and symptoms but also it shows mood altering experiences.
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