An Overview of 8 Common Tick-Borne Diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 476,000 people in the U.S. are affected by a tick-borne disease per year.

Tick-borne diseases spread when they are transmitted by ticks to humans or animals. Infected ticks can carry pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which spread disease.

Once a tick becomes embedded in the skin and starts its feeding process, a pathogen can be transmitted to the human or animal, which can cause disease.

Tick-borne diseases can be severe and even fatal, making it important to avoid tick bites.

In this article, we’ll discuss eight common tick-borne diseases you need to be aware of before venturing outdoors in the warmer months.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through a bite from infected blacklegged ticks, also known as the deer tick.

Most cases of Lyme disease as a result of deer ticks can be successfully treated within a few weeks. However, left untreated, this disease can result in facial paralysis and arthritis.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Lyme disease include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• A rash called erythema migrans (EM)

The erythema migrans rash

The rash associated with Lyme disease affects around 70 to 80% of people with the condition and it typically starts at the site of the tick bite about 3 to 30 days later.

The rash usually expands over several days, potentially reaching up to 12 inches across the body.

It may feel warm to the touch but is often not itchy or painful. It looks like a bull’s-eye and can appear on any part of the body.

Severe symptoms

This tick-borne disease can lead to more serious symptoms, such as:

• Severe headaches
• Neck stiffness
• Facial palsy, which is weakness in the muscles on one side of the face
• Arthritis and severe joint pain and swelling
• Lyme carditis, which is an irregular heartbeat
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
• Nerve pain
• Brain and spinal cord inflammation

Early detection and treatment of Lyme disease can prevent more serious symptoms from occurring.

Treatment

The most common treatment for this tick-borne disease is a course of antibiotics. Most people will fully recover after treatment, but symptoms may take up to six months to fully subside.

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis is the general name for diseases caused by an infected lone star tick. Ehrlichiosis can also be caused by a bite from a blacklegged tick.

Most cases of ehrlichiosis occur in the southeastern and south-central states, such as Missouri, Arkansas, and North Carolina.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ehrlichiosis usually begin within one to two weeks after the bite of an infected tick. These symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Severe headaches
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Confusion
• A rash
• A cough

Ehrlichiosis rash

One in every three people with ehrlichiosis will experience a rash, which typically develops around five days after the tick bite.

Severe symptoms

If ehrlichiosis is not treated early enough, it can cause severe illness, including:

• Damage to the brain or nervous system, including inflammation of the brain and its surrounding tissues, called meningoencephalitis
• Respiratory failure
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Organ failure

Risk factors

Severe cases of untreated ehrlichiosis could be fatal. This is especially true for individuals who are younger than 10 years and older than 70 years or those with weakened immune systems.

Treatment

This disease is also treated with an antibiotic called doxycycline.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)

This disease is spread by infected ticks such as the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and the brown dog tick.

Although Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases occur throughout the U.S., they are most commonly reported in North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Symptoms

The early symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include:

• Fever
• Headaches
• A rash
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle pain
• Lack of appetite

This disease can rapidly progress into a life-threatening illness. If you suspect you have Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it’s important to seek medical attention for an early diagnosis.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever rash

The rash associated with this disease usually starts around two to four days after the illness begins and can look like either red splotches or pinpoint dots.

This rash often doesn’t appear immediately, making initial diagnosis difficult.

Long-term health implications

The long-term health problems associated with this disease — if not treated early — include:

• The amputation of the arms, legs, fingers, or toes due to damage to blood vessels in these areas
• Hearing loss
• Paralysis
• Mental disability

Treatment

The recommended treatment for Rocky Mountain spotted fever is doxycycline, which is safe for adults and children of all ages.

Tularemia

This disease is caused by the bite of several species of ticks.

It has been reported in every state except Hawaii, with the highest incidences in the south-central states, the Great Plains region, and certain tick-infested areas of Massachusetts.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of tularemia include:

• Fever and chills
• Headaches
• Malaise and fatigue
• Myalgia
• Chest discomfort and a cough
• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

Individuals with tularemia may have a fever as high as 104 °F.

Treatment

Antibiotics are recommended to treat this disease, including gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and doxycycline.

Babesiosis

This tick-borne disease is most commonly found in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, particularly in warmer months.

While most tick-borne diseases are caused by bacteria, this illness is the result of microscopic parasites carried by the tick that attacks the red blood cells in the body.

Symptoms

Many people infected with babesiosis don’t show symptoms at all. However, some individuals may develop flu-like symptoms, including:

• Fever and chills
• Sweating
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Fatigue

Risk factors

If left untreated, babesiosis can become severe and even life-threatening, especially in individuals with weak immune systems and serious health conditions.

Treatment

Treatment for babesiosis typically includes antiparasitic drugs and antibiotics. People who don’t experience any symptoms of babesiosis typically don’t require treatment.

Colorado tick fever (CTF)

This is a rare viral disease spread by the Rocky Mountain wood tick. It occurs most commonly in the Western U.S. and Canada. Symptoms

The most common symptoms of CTF include:

• Fever and chills
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Fatigue

Biphasic fever

About 50% of people with Colorado tick fever develop something called biphasic fever, which starts several days after the tick bite. Symptoms of biphasic fever include:

• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• A rash

Treatment

As antibiotics don’t treat viruses, this is not the appropriate treatment for CTF. There are no specific medications that can treat this disease.

Instead, healthcare providers will treat and manage your symptoms. Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications may help alleviate some symptoms of CTF.

Powassan (POW) virus disease

This virus is most common in the Northeast and Great Lakes areas. It attacks both the brain and its surrounding tissue, causing inflammation.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease include:

• Headaches
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Severe symptoms

In more serious cases, Powassan virus disease can develop into meningoencephalitis.

This is inflammation and infection of the meninges and brain. Individuals with meningoencephalitis may experience:

• Confusion
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty speaking
• Seizures

Long-term health implications

One in every ten people with severe Powassan virus disease die. Half of the individuals who survive this disease experience long-term health issues like:

• Loss of muscle strength
• Memory problems
• Recurring headaches

Treatment

There are no medications to treat Powassan virus disease. People with Powassan virus disease may need to be hospitalized to maintain hydration, reduce swelling in the brain, and help with breathing.

Tick paralysis

In this case, the tick-borne disease isn’t caused by a virus or bacteria. Rather, it is caused by a poison in a tick’s saliva.

The ticks that carry this toxin usually include the Rocky Mountain wood and American dog ticks.

It is typically caused by ticks in the Rocky Mountains and Northwestern states.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of tick paralysis is muscle weakness that spreads throughout the body, often beginning in the feet. It can also cause tingling and numbness all over the body.

Treatment

The symptoms of tick paralysis usually subside once the tick is removed from the body.

In rare cases, untreated tick paralysis can impair lung function, leading to breathing difficulties and potentially resulting in death.

Where Can I Learn More About Tick-Borne Diseases?

While LifeMD doesn’t treat tick-borne diseases specifically, we can help with your symptoms.

If you are experiencing uncomfortable or painful symptoms from a tick bite, a healthcare professional can prescribe medication to alleviate them and offer expert advice on recovering from a tick-borne disease.

Make an appointment today to get started.