Tick-borne disease
| Tick-borne diseases | |
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|---|---|
| An eschar suggestive of tick bite |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]
Overview
Tick-borne diseases are diseases or illnesses transmitted by ticks. As the incidence of tick-borne illnesses increases and the geographic areas in which they are found expand, it becomes increasingly important that health professionals be able to distinguish the diverse, and often overlapping, clinical presentations of these diseases.
Pathophysiology
Tick-borne illnesses are caused by infection with a variety of pathogens, including rickettsia and other types of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Because ticks can harbor more than one disease-causing agent, patients can be infected with more than one pathogen at the same time, compounding the difficulty in diagnosis and treatment.
Tick-borne disease Epidemiology and Demographics
Tick-borne disease Classification
Differentiating Tick-Borne Disease
Diagnosis
Risk Factors
People who spend time outdoors and/or have pets that go outdoors are at risk for tick-borne disease.
Physical Examination
A round red rash with a 2-5 mm central black area (eschar, an area of dead tissue)as shown in the photo is suggestive of a tick bite.
Laboratory Findings
In general, specific laboratory tests are not available to rapidly diagnose tick-borne diseases.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
If there is a collection of pus, the area will need to be incised and drained. Antibiotic treatment is often justified based on clinical presentation alone. Doxycycline is often used to treat suspected tick borne-disease. Usually one dose is given to cover Lyme disase. An IV dose of a cephalosporin followed by Keflex 500 mg PO q 6 hours is given to treat the surrounding cellulitus. For hospital workers and others who have recently been in the hospital, bactrim twice a day is given to cover Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).