Tick-borne disease

Updated: 2024-03-30

Description

A type of illness spread through the bite of an infected tick.

Overview

Ticks feed on other living things, also called hosts. As ticks feed, bacteria, viruses or parasites can spread from the tick through the bite and into the host's body. The illnesses caused by those germs are tick-borne diseases. An example is Lyme disease.

Symptoms

Tick bites can look like tiny, itchy bumps. Symptoms may appear up to a few weeks after the bite. They vary based on the disease and may include fever, chills, aches and rash.

Treatments

Treatment for tick-borne disease depends on the illness and include medicines that target the germs and that ease symptoms.