Quoted Text

Ticks have a new threat to offer
Infection feels like flu, but can get much worse; it affects those over 65
By Cathleen F. Crowley
Published 10:58 p.m., Sunday, April 8, 2012

Lyme disease gave ticks notoriety, but the tiny critters carry other nasty diseases.

One tick-borne infection in particular is showing up more frequently in emergency rooms around the greater Capital Region.

It is called anaplasmosis, and it feels like a terrible case of the flu or mononucleosis. The bacterial infection causes a fever, headache, muscle pain, malaise, chills, nausea and confusion. The illness, which usually affects people over 65, can come on so strong that patients need to be hospitalized.

In one case seen by infectious disease specialist Dr. Alan Sanders last year, the patient was in the intensive care unit on a ventilator and dialysis.

But once diagnosed and treated with the antibiotic doxycycline, patients recover fast. Very fast....................>>>>...................>>>>.......................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ticks-have-a-new-threat-to-offer-3467669.php#ixzz1rXK4wXyk