What disease is caused by a tick bite? - briefly
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common illness transmitted through tick bites. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a distinctive bull’s‑eye rash.
What disease is caused by a tick bite? - in detail
Ticks transmit several pathogens, the most prevalent being a spirochete that causes Lyme disease. The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi enters the skin during a blood meal, often leaving a red, expanding rash (erythema migrans) within 3–30 days. Early manifestations include fatigue, headache, fever, and joint pain. If untreated, the infection may spread to the nervous system, heart, and joints, producing facial palsy, meningitis‑like symptoms, carditis, and chronic arthritic inflammation. Diagnosis relies on clinical presentation and serologic testing for specific antibodies; polymerase chain reaction can confirm infection in skin or joint fluid. First‑line therapy consists of doxycycline for 10–21 days; alternative agents include amoxicillin or cefuroxime for patients who cannot tolerate tetracyclines.
Other illnesses transmitted by ticks include:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii): abrupt fever, rash spreading from wrists and ankles, headache; treated with doxycycline.
- Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum): fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia; doxycycline for 10 days.
- Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis): similar to anaplasmosis, may progress to respiratory failure; doxycycline required.
- Babesiosis (Babesia microti): malaria‑like hemolytic anemia, treated with atovaquone plus azithromycin or clindamycin plus quinine.
- Powassan virus: encephalitis, meningitis; supportive care only.
- Tularemia (Francisella tularensis): ulceroglandular lesions, treated with streptomycin or gentamicin.
Prevention centers on avoiding tick habitats, wearing protective clothing, applying repellents containing DEET or picaridin, and performing prompt body checks after exposure. Removing attached ticks with fine‑tipped forceps, grasping close to the skin, and pulling steadily reduces transmission risk. Regular landscape management—removing leaf litter, tall grass, and wildlife attractants—further lowers encounter rates.