Tick Bites: Flu-Like Symptoms
Topic Overview
Many of the diseases ticks pass to humans can cause flu-like symptoms, including:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Muscle aches (myalgia).
- A general feeling of illness (malaise).
- Nausea and vomiting.
Diseases ticks may pass to humans include:
-
Lyme disease
. Symptoms usually start 1 to 4 weeks after the tick bite, with up to 90% of people developing an expanding, circular red skin rash.
-
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
. Symptoms usually start about 2 to 14 days after the tick bite.
-
Tularemia
. Symptoms usually start within 21 days (but average 1 to 10 days) after the tick bite or other exposure.
-
Ehrlichiosis
. Symptoms usually start from 1 to 21 days (average of 7 days) after the tick bite.
-
Relapsing fever
. Symptoms usually start 3 to 11 days (average of 6 days) after the tick bite.
-
Colorado tick fever
. Symptoms usually start within 14 days (average of 3 to 6 days) of the tick bite.
-
Babesiosis
. Symptoms usually start 1 to 6 weeks after the tick bite.
In some parts of the world, tick bites may cause other tick-borne diseases, such as
South African tick-bite fever
.
A doctor can evaluate the cause of your flu-like symptoms and recommend treatment.
Credits
Current as of: June 26, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
H. Michael O'Connor, MD, MMEd, FRCPC - Emergency Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Current as of: June 26, 2019
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD, MMEd, FRCPC - Emergency Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine