Symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases

Not all tick bites are obvious. However, if you develop any of the following symptoms following a tick bite or after spending time in an area known to have blacklegged ticks, consult your health care provider.

Lyme disease

Symptoms of Lyme disease usually occur within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite and may include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pains
• Stiff neck
• Spasms, numbness or tingling
• Facial paralysis
• Fatigue
• Swollen glands
• Expanding, bruise-like or unusual skin rash (however, many people never get or see a rash)

If Lyme infection is not recognized and treated, it can affect the heart, nervous system or joints. However, if it’s caught early Lyme disease can generally be treated successfully. That’s why it’s important to contact your health care provider if you believe a tick was attached for more than 24 hours or if you develop flu-like symptoms or an unusal rash in the weeks following a tick bite.

Anaplasmosis

Symptoms of anaplasmosis begin to show within 1 to 3 weeks after being bitten by an infected tick, and may include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and/or loss of appetite. In rare cases, if treatment is delayed or other medical conditions are present, anaplasmosis can lead to serious illness, including respiratory failure, bleeding problems, organ failure and death. Most cases of anaplasmosis can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a parasitic infection transmitted by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Most infections are asymptomatic. However, if symptoms occur, they typically begin to show within 7 to 30 days following the bite, and can include fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. Babesiosis can also cause a type of anemia called hemolytic anemia. Symptoms of hemolytic anemia include fatigue, jaundice and dark urine. Most cases of babesiosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics and/or antiparasitic drugs.

Powassan virus

Getting Powassan virus infection from tick bites is rare, but can be severe for some people. Most people who become infected with Powassan virus develop either very mild, flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. Symptoms can include fever, seizures, vomiting, weakness, confusion, headache, and memory loss. In some individuals, Powassan virus disease can cause serious problems such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

There is currently no known treatment for Powassan virus. As with other tick-borne diseases, the best way to protect yourself is to prevent tick bites.