Tick-Borne Diseases are dangerous situations that every pet parent should be aware of. This is a type of disease can spread from infected ticks living on your dog’s body. We all know that almost every dog has ticks and these ticks can cause harmful diseases to humans. Tick-Borne Diseases can be of many types. So, today in this post, we are going to explain How many types of tick-borne diseases are there, their symptoms, precaution, medication, etc. If you are a pet parent then you should definitely know about Tick Born Disease even if you are not infected.
What is tick-borne disease?
In simple words, when a tick bites a human after getting infected with a certain bacteria, humans get such type of disease which is called Tick-Borne Disease.
Tick-borne diseases that can afflict both humans and animals are transmitted only through the bite of an infected tick.
Any tick if infected with a bacterium, the pathogen in them can be transferred through the bite of the tick and can cause ailments.
They live on blood
Ticks are notorious vector, their survival depends on animal or human blood although most don’t lead to any harm. But make sure to keep your eyes on yourself for symptoms of illnesses ticks carry with themselves.
There are mainly 6 types of disease that can show up when you are infected with Tick-Borne Disease. To know and be sure what you are facing, here are the 6 Tick-Borne Diseases and their symptoms. We have also included treatment and precautions for the future.
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6 Tick-Borne Diseases Types and Symptoms
There are basically 6 Tick-Borne Disease Types in major. In this below section, we are going to add all 6 Tick Borne Disease Types and their Symptoms. These Tick Borne Disease Symptoms are crucial for knowing which disease you are fighting with.
Lyme disease
A tick-borne illness is caused by the bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely by Borrelia mayonii is called Lyme Disease.
Lyme disease is also known as Lyme borreliosis. In the first weeks of an infected tick bite, you may feel like you have common flu fever, chills, headache, and joint or muscle ache, you may also notice some skin rashes that start to appear within 30 days of being bitten by an infected tick. The area near the tick bite may appear to look like a bull’s red eye. Most of the people who get the tick bite tend to have this rash symptom.
Treatment for Lyme disease
If you are suffering through the symptoms, seek medical care immediately, if your tick is fat (deer tick) a physician-prescribed antibiotic will keep you safe from deadly conditions if you take it within 72 hours of being bitten. In case the infection spreads in your body physician might suggest you take antibiotics for a longer period of time which can take up to 6 months to recover. If Lyme disease is left untreated you may get little to severe numbness in your legs and arms or partial paralysis on one side of your face.
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Rocky Mountain spotted fever
It is relatively a very rare disease spread by the bite of an infected tick, the cases are fewer than 100 thousand per year (India)
RMSF is caused by a tick that carried a bacterium known as Rickettsia.
The symptoms might start to appear within 3-12 days after the bite of an infected tick,
However, most tick bites do not hurt and people don’t remember being bitten
The symptoms may occur onset causing fever, nausea, stomach ache, red eyes, and muscle ache. Usually, most people get little blemishes around their anklets or wrist area.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Treatment
The physician may prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics accordingly, taking immediate medical attention is necessary, taking the prescribed antibiotic as soon as symptoms show up.
Powassan
Powassan virus is a flavivirus transmitted by an infected tick bite. It is neurovirulent flavivirus. It attacks the brain tissue around it and causes meningoencephalitis.
Symptoms include headaches, fever, vomiting, loss of coordination, and confusion. And epileptic disorder these symptoms may show up anytime between a week to a month after being bitten.
Treatment of powassan
Physicians might need to take your blood sample and test your spinal fluid for diagnosis purposes. There is no such medicine yet to cure this disease, you may need to be hospitalized minimizing the symptoms or the swelling of your brain but it can leave lasting nerve damage in your brain.
Tick Paralysis
Tick paralysis is a very uncommon and infectious neurological syndrome.
Tick paralysis is not caused by other usual methods of getting infected instead it is caused by exposure to a neurotoxin that is in the tick salivary gland that is transmitted to humans during a bite. It makes your muscles droopy as it infects your body, its complete recovery is expected as soon as you locate the area of the tick on your skin and remove it.
Anaplasmosis
anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease that is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilium, The kind of tick with a black leg carries this bacterium. This bacteria attacks our white blood cells which helps to fight several diseases in our body. It makes you lethargic along with symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, and stomach pain.
Symptoms will start to show up within 3weeks of being bitten by an infected black-legged tick. Most physician prescribes antibiotic therapy to treat anaplasmosis.
Ehrlichiosis is also a tick-borne disease that is related to anaplasmosis. These are two closely related tick-borne diseases. The symptoms and the treatments are almost the same.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is caused by babesia a tiny microscopic parasite that infects red blood cells. Recent researchers say it presents flu-like symptoms and it can carry up to 20% risk of death if immunocompromised. Babesiosis is contracted from the same black-legged deer tick that spreads Lyme disease but it doesn’t leave a rash in the region of your skin being bitten.
But unlike Lyme disease babesiosis can be transmitted either through a tick bite or blood transfusion, babesiosis is a serious problem and both doctors and victims urge people to take notice and seek medical attention most probably your physician will perform a test on you for diagnosis, it is usually treated with prescribed antibiotics along with anti-parasitic drugs
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Tick Borne Disease Safety directions
In this blog of Tick Borne Disease Information, we have added crucial information related to ones safety. To prevent a tick-borne disease it is best not to get bitten by one, they mostly live in tall bushes and grass, and they may crawl onto your skin as you walk by. There are many bug repellants available nowadays in stores. Remember to keep it in your pocket.
Wear long pants and socks if possible.
Look carefully at your body when you step in or out.
If you find a tick attached to your skin don’t try to burst or squeeze it as that can make release its toxins. remove carefully with tweezers. You can put hydrogen peroxide around the area and monitor to see if there’s any rash or any other symptoms develop. If you are not feeling well, see your doctor as soon as possible, tick-borne illnesses can be treated easily if they are caught early.
FAQ
Q. What are tick-borne diseases?
A. Tick-borne diseases are illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are transmitted to humans and animals through the bites of infected ticks.
Q. What types of ticks are responsible for transmitting diseases?
A. Ticks like the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the deer tick (Ixodes pacificus) are common vectors for transmitting diseases like Lyme disease. Other ticks such as the Lone Star tick and the American dog tick can also transmit various diseases.
Q.. What is Lyme disease?
A. Lyme disease is a prevalent tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It often presents with symptoms like fever, fatigue, joint pain, and a characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash.
Q. What are the symptoms of tick-borne diseases?
A. Symptoms vary depending on the specific disease, but common symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, and rashes. Some diseases may also lead to more severe complications.
Q. How can I protect myself from tick bites?
A. To protect yourself from tick bites, wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes when in wooded or grassy areas. Use insect repellents with DEET, picaridin, or other approved ingredients. Perform regular tick checks after outdoor activities.
Q. Can tick-borne diseases be treated?
A. Yes, many tick-borne diseases can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. Lyme disease, for example, can be effectively treated with antibiotics like doxycycline or amoxicillin.
Q. How are tick-borne diseases diagnosed?
A. Diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical symptoms, medical history, and laboratory tests. Blood tests, such as enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and Western blot tests, are commonly used to confirm infections.
Final Words: In conclusion, tick-borne diseases pose a significant health concern worldwide. These illnesses are transmitted through the bites of infected ticks and can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe complications. Vigilance and proactive measures, such as wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, and performing thorough tick checks, are crucial for preventing these diseases. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment with antibiotics can effectively manage most tick-borne infections.
We have shared crucial information and a safe guide for Tick-Borne Disease on PawFactsnGuide. Read this blog about Tick-Borne Disease, share with your friends and stay safe.
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