What symptoms occur after a tick bite? - briefly
Typical early signs are a red, itchy bite site and, in some cases, a bull’s‑eye rash; later manifestations may include fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and fatigue.
What symptoms occur after a tick bite? - in detail
A tick bite can trigger a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from immediate local reactions to systemic illnesses that develop days or weeks later. The initial response typically appears at the attachment site and may include:
- Redness or a small papule that enlarges into a wheal
- Itching, burning, or tenderness around the bite
- A raised, expanding rash known as erythema migrans, often resembling a target or bull’s‑eye pattern, appearing 3–30 days after the bite
Systemic signs may accompany or follow the cutaneous changes, particularly when an infectious agent such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Rickettsia spp. (spotted fever), or Anaplasma spp. is transmitted:
- Fever, chills, and night sweats
- Headache, often described as severe or throbbing
- Muscle and joint aches, sometimes progressing to migratory arthralgia
- Fatigue and malaise
- Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
- Neurological symptoms: facial palsy, meningitis‑like stiffness, or peripheral neuropathy
- Cardiac involvement: palpitations, chest discomfort, or atrioventricular block
In some cases, a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, termed tick‑borne lymphadenopathy, presents with regional lymph node enlargement without a rash. Rare complications include:
- Hemorrhagic fever with thrombocytopenia (e.g., Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever)
- Acute kidney injury secondary to hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Severe encephalitis or meningoencephalitis
Prompt removal of the tick reduces the likelihood of pathogen transmission, but surveillance for the described signs remains essential for early diagnosis and treatment.