Tick season is upon us, and with it comes the threat of Lyme disease. However, Lyme is far from the only tick-borne illness causing concern. This year, emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest level in nearly a decade in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Experts warn that the worst may still be ahead as summer approaches and people spend more time outdoors. Tick season typically runs from April to September, peaking in May, but a warming climate has extended the season and expanded tick ranges northward.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is the deadliest tick disease in the U.S., with a mortality rate of 3-5% among infected patients, according to Columbia University's Irving Medical Center. It is spread by several tick species, including American dog ticks (eastern U.S.), brown dog ticks (Southwest), and Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Northwest). Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, and headache, appearing within two days to two weeks after a bite. A distinctive red rash, either pinpoint dots or splotches, often appears late in the illness. Without prompt treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline within eight days, RMSF can be fatal. Survivors may suffer permanent hearing loss, mental disability, or amputation.
Powassan Virus
Powassan virus is a more severe threat, killing one in ten people who develop severe symptoms within one to four weeks of a tick bite. Spread by blacklegged ticks in the Northeast and Great Lakes, it causes swelling around the brain and spinal cord, leading to seizures, difficulty speaking, confusion, and loss of coordination. There are no vaccines or specific treatments for Powassan virus, and half of survivors experience long-term effects such as muscle loss and recurring headaches.
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis, spread by blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks, presents symptoms similar to Powassan virus but can lead to organ and respiratory failure. It is treatable with doxycycline, with patients often feeling better within 24 hours. The mortality rate is about 0.5%. Anaplasmosis is especially prevalent in dogs, and cases are expected to rise this year, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis attacks blood cells and has a death rate of up to 9% in healthy patients and over 20% in those with compromised immune systems. It is found in the Upper Midwest, Northeast, and occasionally the West Coast. Symptoms begin weeks to months after a bite. Babesiosis can also be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or through blood transfusions. Treatment involves a 7-10 day course of two antibiotics, typically atovaquone and azithromycin.
Prevention Tips
To avoid tick bites, stay out of wooded and grassy areas, wear long-sleeved clothing when hiking, and check pets for ticks. As Dr. Robert Smith of the MaineHealth Institute for Research advises, ticks on dogs indicate risk for humans too.
