What should you do for anaplasmosis transmitted by a tick? - briefly
Immediately consult a healthcare professional for diagnostic testing and start a doxycycline course (usually 100 mg twice daily for 10–14 days). Also, safely remove the attached tick and watch for fever, headache, or muscle aches.
What should you do for anaplasmosis transmitted by a tick? - in detail
After a bite from a hard‑bodied tick, remove the parasite promptly. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine‑point tweezers, pull upward with steady pressure, and disinfect the site with an alcohol swab. Keep the removed tick in a sealed container in case laboratory identification is needed.
Monitor the individual for signs of infection over the next 2–4 weeks. Common manifestations include fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, and a feeling of profound fatigue. Laboratory testing should be ordered if any of these symptoms appear, especially a complete blood count showing a low platelet count or low white‑blood‑cell count, which are characteristic of the disease.
If diagnostic tests confirm infection, initiate antibiotic therapy without delay. Doxycycline, 100 mg taken orally twice daily for 10–14 days, is the recommended first‑line treatment. In cases where doxycycline is contraindicated, alternatives such as rifampin or azithromycin may be considered, but they are less effective. Ensure the patient completes the full course to prevent relapse.
Schedule a follow‑up appointment after treatment to verify resolution of symptoms and normalization of laboratory values. Persistent fever or worsening laboratory parameters warrant re‑evaluation and possible adjustment of the antimicrobial regimen.
To reduce future risk, adopt preventive measures: wear long sleeves and trousers in tick‑infested habitats, apply EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET or picaridin, conduct thorough body checks after outdoor exposure, and treat clothing with permethrin. Regularly maintain yard vegetation to keep it low and remove leaf litter, limiting tick habitats near living areas.