There have been several cases of the tickborne disease Ehrlichiosis in people and a dog hiking the Aucilla Sinks section of the Florida National Scenic Trail.  Special attention and caution should be practiced while hiking this section from April through September.  Ticks are possible year round, but are in extreme abundance in the late spring and summer months.  Exposure can be 50 or more specimens (even with use of Deet repellent), which increases the risk of being infected.  Not all ticks carry a disease and some areas in Florida do not have a reason for concern, but where there are known carriers, it is best to either avoid that area in the summer or be aware of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Ehrlichiosis is caused by the lone star tick which has a white spot on its back.  The symptoms are flu-like and include fever, body aches, and extreme fatigue.  A ring or rash can occur, but not in all cases.  In a dog, symptoms are loss of appetite and lethargy.  Symptoms may not appear for up to two weeks after exposure.  If you experience any of these symptoms, see a doctor and let him/her know you were exposed to ticks.  Many doctors do not have experience with tick-borne diseases. They may think you just have a virus and will not prescribe an antibiotic.  There is no quick test for the disease, although a blood test can be done to check for a low white blood cell count, which is an indicator.  If you suspect that you may have this disease, go to the Centers for Disease Control website http://www.cdc.gov/Ehrlichiosis/symptoms/index.html.  Symptoms can vary greatly from person to person and diagnosis can be very tricky.  If you feel that you have this disease and your doctor will not prescribe anything, be persistent and ask for the antibiotic doxycycline.  Once it is taken, symptoms are gone within 1-2 days. 

By Barbara Donner

Other tick-borne illnesses which may occur in Florida include Babesiosis, Lyme disease, Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis, STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness) and Tularemia.  Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. If you have been bitten by a tick and develop fever, chills, a rash or aches and pains within a few weeks, a health care provider should evaluate the your symptoms, the geographic region where you were bitten and diagnostic tests before deciding on a course of treatment.  Centers for Disease Control