What does a Lyme disease tick threaten? - briefly
A tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi can transmit Lyme disease, which may produce erythema migrans, arthritis, neurological disorders, and cardiac involvement if not promptly treated.
What does a Lyme disease tick threaten? - in detail
Lyme‑causing ticks (primarily Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus) transmit Borrelia burgdorferi and, in some regions, additional pathogens. The threats they pose extend beyond the initial infection and can affect multiple organ systems.
The primary health risks include:
- Early localized disease – erythema migrans rash, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches appearing within 3‑30 days after a bite.
- Early disseminated disease – multiple rashes, cranial nerve palsy (often facial), meningitis, cardiac conduction abnormalities, and migratory joint pain developing weeks to months later.
- Late disseminated disease – chronic arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, and cognitive deficits that may persist for years if untreated.
- Coinfections – Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Ehrlichia species, which can cause fever, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and severe systemic illness, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
- Pregnancy complications – transplacental transmission of B. burgdorferi may lead to fetal loss or congenital abnormalities, though such outcomes are rare.
Additional concerns:
- Delayed diagnosis – nonspecific symptoms often result in missed or late treatment, increasing the likelihood of chronic manifestations.
- Geographic spread – expanding tick habitats due to climate change raise exposure risk in previously low‑incidence areas.
- Economic impact – medical costs for diagnosis, treatment, and long‑term management of complications can be substantial.
Preventive measures that reduce these hazards include regular skin inspections after outdoor activities, prompt removal of attached ticks, use of EPA‑registered repellents, and wearing protective clothing in endemic zones. Early antibiotic therapy (e.g., doxycycline) administered within 72 hours of tick attachment markedly lowers the probability of severe disease and secondary infections.