Tick bite fever is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, with symptoms including fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Antibiotics may be needed for treatment. Prevention includes wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent.
Tick bite fever is a bacterial infection transmitted by the saliva of a disease-carrying tick. A rash and other symptoms typically appear about a week after a bite, which may be painless. An ulcer, called an eschar, with a black spot in the center sometimes presents and could be mistaken for a spider bite. Symptoms typically go away in a couple of weeks, but antibiotic therapy may be needed.
There are hundreds of species of ticks, but only two carry tick bite fever. Lxodidae, a hard-shelled tick, and Argasidae, a soft-bodied parasite, transmit disease to humans. It is usually a female tick bite that spreads the bacteria because males typically die after mating. These insects don’t jump, but use their legs to crawl up to an animal or person in the grass where they lie in wait.
Signs of tick bite fever include fever, swollen lymph nodes near the bite site, and headache. The severity of symptoms depends on the species of tick, the age of the person bitten, and their general health. People with compromised immune systems may get sicker because their bodies can’t fight off the infection.
Doctors test for tick bite fever by testing for antibodies in the blood because the actual infection may not show up for weeks after a tick bite. Some people develop a rash that starts on the legs and arms and spreads to the stomach, soles of the feet, and palms of the hands. In rare cases, people may be allergic to tick saliva, causing breathing problems, numbness, and swelling. These symptoms generally require medical attention.
For most people, tick bites can be treated with topical creams to control itching. An antibiotic cream might also prevent infection at the bite site. Unless bothersome signs develop, the discomfort usually resolves in about two weeks.
Ticks belong to the spider insect family and have been around for millions of years. Some die without a blood meal from an animal or human, but some can live more than a year without feeding. Tick-borne diseases are named after the areas in which they are found, such as African tick bite fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These parasites are also identified by their preferred hosts, such as deer ticks and dog ticks.
Preventing a bite can reduce the chance of contracting tick bite fever while hiking or walking in regions where ticks live. The trouser legs should be tucked into socks or high boots so that ticks cannot crawl over the skin. Light-colored clothing makes ticks visible so they can be promptly removed. Some people use insect repellents when camping or hiking in tick-infested areas. If a tick is found on the body, it can be removed with tweezers while wearing gloves to prevent contamination.
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