Tick-borne Relapsing Fever
Tick-borne Relapsing Fever
What is tick-borne relapsing fever?
Tick-borne relapsing fever (or TBRF) is a disease you can get from a tick. It is an infection caused by a bite from a tick that carries the bacteria Borrelia hermsii. In the United States, these ticks are usually found in higher elevations of the western states.
What are the symptoms of TBRF?
If you have TBRF, you probably have a fever that comes and goes. Some other symptoms of TBRF may include:
- Headache
- Chills
- Muscle or joint aches
- Nausea and vomiting
Who is at risk for TBRF?
You are at risk for TBRF if you have had a tick bite or if you have found any ticks on your body in the past 3 weeks. People who spend time outdoors in areas where ticks are common, either for work or recreation, are at higher risk of getting any tick-borne disease.
What can I do if I have TBRF?
See your doctor right away if you think you have TBRF. He or she can test your blood for TBRF or other tick-borne diseases.
If you have TBRF, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics to fight the bacteria.
If you have TBRF, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics to fight the bacteria.
How can I keep from getting TBRF?
The following can help you protect yourself from TBRF and other tick-borne diseases:
- When in wooded areas, wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts.
- Use tick repellent that contains DEET to keep ticks from biting you.
- Check your skin and clothing when leaving an area that might have ticks. Ticks will usually crawl on your body for several hours before digging into your skin, often at the back of the neck, at the hairline or in damp places like the armpits.
- Make sure to remove any attached ticks as soon as possible. To remove a tick, use tweezers to grab the tick by the head (or as close as possible to the head) and pull. Do not use heat, petroleum jelly or other methods to try to make the tick "back out" on its own.
Make sure to talk to your doctor before you use any tick repellent on your child. Your doctor can give you more information on what type and strength of repellent is safe to use.
More Information
Source
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.
Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever by C Roscoe, M.D. and T Epperly, M.D. (American Family Physician November 15, 2005, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20051115/2039.html)
Reviewed/Updated: 11/07
Created: 07/06