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Reaction to a Tick Bite

Most people have no reaction to tick bites.  Some people who are more sensitive may experience redness or itchiness at the site of the bite. If allergic, some could suffer from anaphylaxis.

Most ticks do not carry disease, but if a disease carrying tick has infected you, you may have a significant reaction.  Here are a few of the diseases that ticks carry that cause reactions in those infected.

Lyme disease: symptoms include a bulls-eye like rash, general achiness, headache. If left untreated the bite victim may develop facial paralysis, sever neck pain, abnormal pulse, sore throat, change in vision, severe fatigue, numbness in the extremities and a fever. Late stage reactions can include arthritis and neurological disorders.

Symptoms generally appear 3-30 days following a tick bite.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever: symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and headache.  Additional symptoms can include diarrhea, joint pain, rash, abdominal pain.

Symptoms generally appear 5-10 days follow a tick bite.

Babesiosis: Many people infected with babesiosis have no symptoms.  Mild symptoms include muscle ache, headache, chills, fever, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Sever reactions can include a low platelet count, hemolytic anemia, low blood pressure, blood clots, malfunction of vital organs, and death.

Ehrlichiosis: symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Severe reactions include vomiting, cough, diarrhea, joint pain, and confusion.

Symptoms generally appear 5-10 days following a tick bite.

Rickettsiosis: Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches.

Tick-borne Relapsing Fever: Symptoms include bouts of recurring fever with additional symptoms that could include headache, sweats, chills, muscle pain, and joint pain.  Severe symptoms could include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, dry cough, photophobia, rash, neck pain, confusion, eye pain, and dizziness.

Symptoms generally appear 2-18 days follow a tick bite.

Anaplasmosis: symptoms are flu-like and include muscle aches, fever, chills, and headaches. 

Symptoms generally appear within 5-21 days of a tick bite.