Lyme Disease is the most well-known illness that is spread by ticks. But do you know there are many others that you may not have heard of?
Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF)
This disease is transmitted by the bite of Ornithodoros species soft tick which primarily feeds at night. The infection is characterized by recurring episodes of fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, chills, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is an infection caused by the protozoan parasite Babesia microti which infects red blood cells (RBCs) causing severe anaemia. It is transmitted by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), the same tick that transmits Lyme disease. This illness is usually treated for at least 7-10 days of a combination of two prescription medications, plus supportive care.
Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME)
Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, malaise, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as confusion, conjunctival injection (red eyes) and a rash in 60 percent of children and less than 30 percent of adults. Antibiotic is the usual treatment for this disease, but if left untreated, may be lethal.
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA)
Also known as known as Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE), This tick-associated disease is caused by bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum and is transmitted by the black-legged tick(Ixodes scapularis) and Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). It is treatable with antibiotics but can be lethal to old or immune-compromised patients.
If you have a tick infestation in your home, contact your local pest expert today!