What is the disease called after a tick bite in humans? - briefly
The condition transmitted by a tick bite in people is known as Lyme disease. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and typically presents with a rash, fever, and joint pain.
What is the disease called after a tick bite in humans? - in detail
A bite from a hard‑shell tick (Ixodes spp.) most commonly transmits Lyme disease, an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The pathogen enters the skin during the blood meal and can spread through the bloodstream to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
Clinical presentation
- Erythema migrans: expanding red rash, often with central clearing, appearing 3–30 days after exposure.
- Early systemic signs: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches.
- Early disseminated phase (weeks to months): multiple skin lesions, facial nerve palsy, meningitis, heart block, migratory arthritis.
- Late disease (months to years): chronic arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive difficulties.
Diagnosis
- Physical examination of rash and neurologic findings.
- Two‑tier serologic testing: enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by Western blot for confirmation.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of synovial fluid or cerebrospinal fluid in selected cases.
Therapeutic regimen
- Oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10–21 days is first‑line for most adults and children over eight years.
- Alternatives include amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil for patients unable to tolerate doxycycline.
- Intravenous ceftriaxone or penicillin G for severe neurologic or cardiac involvement, administered for 14–28 days.
Other tick‑borne infections
- Anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, presents with fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes; doxycycline for 10 days is effective.
- Babesiosis, due to Babesia microti, produces hemolytic anemia; treatment combines atovaquone and azithromycin, or clindamycin plus quinine for severe cases.
- Ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis, manifests with fever, rash, and organ dysfunction; doxycycline for 7–14 days is recommended.
- Powassan virus, a flavivirus, may cause encephalitis; no specific antiviral therapy exists, supportive care is essential.
Prevention
- Wear long sleeves and pants in endemic areas, treat clothing with permethrin, and apply EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.
- Perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activities; remove attached ticks promptly with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight upward.
- Landscape management to reduce tick habitat, such as clearing leaf litter and keeping grass short, lowers exposure risk.
Timely recognition, accurate testing, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy substantially reduce the likelihood of long‑term complications from tick‑borne illnesses.