Southern tick-associated rash illness
From IDWiki
Microbiology
- Unknown; although Borrelia lonestari has been proposed as the causative organism, this has not been confirmed
Epidemiology
- Transmitted by the Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, with a presumed deer reservoir
- Present in southern and south-east US
Clinical Presentation
- Incubation period of 6 to 9 days
- Erythema migrans, similar to Lyme disease
Coinfections
- Human monocytic ehrlichiosis
- Heartland virus
- Q fever
Differential Diagnosis
- Lyme disease
Management
- Reasonable to treat similarly to Lyme disease
- Doxycycline for 10 to 30 days, or amoxicillin, or cefuroxime
- Longer treatment favoured for signs of disseminated disease
