What is the disease called when a tick bites? - briefly
A tick bite can transmit Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Other frequent tick‑borne infections include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.
What is the disease called when a tick bites? - in detail
A bite from a hard‑bodied tick (family Ixodidae) can transmit several infectious agents. The most frequently encountered illness in temperate regions is Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (or related species). Typical manifestations include an expanding erythema migrans rash, flu‑like symptoms, and, if untreated, joint inflammation, cardiac conduction disturbances, and neurologic deficits such as facial palsy or meningitis. Diagnosis relies on clinical presentation, exposure history, and serologic testing for specific antibodies. First‑line therapy consists of doxycycline for adults and children over eight years; amoxicillin or cefuroxime are alternatives for younger patients or those with contraindications.
Other notable tick‑borne infections include:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever – caused by Rickettsia rickettsii; presents with high fever, headache, and a characteristic petechial rash; treated promptly with doxycycline.
- Ehrlichiosis – Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection; symptoms comprise fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia; doxycycline is the recommended regimen.
- Anaplasmosis – Anaplasma phagocytophilum; similar clinical picture to ehrlichiosis; doxycycline remains the drug of choice.
- Babesiosis – protozoan Babesia microti; produces hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria, and fever; therapy combines atovaquone and azithromycin, or clindamycin plus quinine for severe cases.
- Tularemia – Francisella tularensis; may cause ulceroglandular lesions, pneumonia, or systemic illness; streptomycin or gentamicin are first‑line agents.
- Powassan virus disease – flavivirus infection; can cause encephalitis or meningitis; supportive care is the mainstay, as no specific antiviral therapy exists.
- Tick‑borne relapsing fever – Borrelia spp. distinct from Lyme agents; characterized by recurrent fevers and spirochetemia; treated with tetracyclines.
Prevention strategies focus on avoiding tick habitats, using repellents containing DEET or permethrin, wearing long sleeves and pants, and performing thorough tick checks after outdoor activities. Prompt removal of attached ticks—grasping the mouthparts with fine tweezers and pulling steadily—reduces the likelihood of pathogen transmission, as most agents require several hours of attachment before entering the host bloodstream.