Risk Factors for Ehrlichiosis

List of Risk Factors for Ehrlichiosis

The list of risk factors mentioned for Ehrlichiosis in various sources includes:

• Immunocompromise
• Immunosuppresive therapies
• Transplant patients
• HIV
• Cortiocosteroids
• Cancer chemotherapy

Risk factors discussion:

The severity of ehrlichiosis may be related in part to the immune status of the patient.  Persons with compromised immunity caused by immunosuppresive therapies (e.g., cortiocosteroids or cancer chemotherapy), HIV infection, or splenectomy appear to develop more severe disease, and case-fatality ratios for these individuals are characteristically higher than case-fatality ratios reported for the general population. (Source: excerpt from Human Ehrlichiosis in the United States: Signs and Symptoms: DVRD)

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Ehrlichiosis are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Ehrlichiosis makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Ehrlichiosis. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Ehrlichiosis. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

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