What is the name of a tick infection? - briefly
The most common tick-borne disease is Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Other notable infections include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
What is the name of a tick infection? - in detail
Lyme disease is the most widely recognized infection transmitted by ticks. It is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (and, in Europe, B. afzelii and B. garinii). The bacterium is introduced into the skin when an infected nymphal or adult Ixodes tick feeds for at least 24 hours.
The disease progresses through distinct stages:
- Early localized phase (3–30 days after bite) – erythema migrans rash, flu‑like symptoms, headache, fatigue.
- Early disseminated phase (weeks to months) – multiple rashes, facial nerve palsy, meningitis, cardiac conduction abnormalities, migratory joint pain.
- Late disseminated phase (months to years) – chronic arthritis, neurologic deficits, neurocognitive impairment.
Diagnosis relies on a two‑tier serologic algorithm: an initial enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by a confirmatory Western blot. Direct detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture is reserved for specific presentations such as neuroborreliosis or synovial fluid analysis.
First‑line therapy consists of doxycycline (100 mg orally twice daily for 14–21 days) for most patients; amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil are alternatives for pregnant women, children under eight, or doxycycline‑intolerant individuals. Intravenous ceftriaxone is indicated for severe neurologic or cardiac involvement.
Prevention focuses on vector control and personal protection:
- Use EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin.
- Wear long sleeves and pants, tucking shirts into trousers.
- Perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activity; remove attached ticks promptly with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight upward.
- Landscape management to reduce tick habitat—keep grass short, remove leaf litter, and create barriers between wooded areas and recreational zones.
In addition to Lyme disease, ticks transmit several other pathogens, including:
- Rickettsia rickettsii – Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum – Anaplasmosis.
- Ehrlichia chaffeensis – Ehrlichiosis.
- Babesia microti – Babesiosis.
- Tick‑borne encephalitis virus – Tick‑borne encephalitis.
Each disease has its own clinical spectrum, diagnostic criteria, and treatment protocols, underscoring the importance of accurate identification of the tick species, exposure history, and regional epidemiology when evaluating a patient with a possible tick‑borne infection.