Tick Fever: Signs, Prevention, and What to Do After a Tick Bite
A single tick bite can lead to several different illnesses—some mild, some serious. If you spend time outdoors, you need simple, practical steps to spot problems early and act fast. This page explains what tick fever looks like, how to remove ticks safely, when to see a doctor, and how to reduce your risk next time.
What tick fever looks like
“Tick fever” isn’t one disease. It’s a group of infections spread by ticks, including bacterial ones like ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and parasitic ones like babesiosis. Common early signs are sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and feeling very tired. A rash can appear with some infections—Rocky Mountain spotted fever often causes a spotted rash, but it may come a few days after fever starts. With babesiosis you might notice dark urine or jaundice if red blood cells break down.
Symptoms usually show up between 3 and 14 days after a bite, but that varies. If you find a tick and feel unwell within two weeks, treat that as important. Don’t ignore a low-grade fever or persistent headache after a bite—early treatment prevents complications.
Quick actions after a tick bite
Remove the tick right away. Use fine-tipped tweezers, grab the tick close to the skin, and pull straight up with steady pressure. Don’t twist, crush, or use heat or creams—those can make infection more likely. After removal, clean the area with soap and alcohol.
Save the tick in a sealed plastic bag or container and note when and where you were bitten. A photo helps too. If the tick was attached for many hours, looked engorged, or came from a high-risk area, call your clinic. Many doctors start doxycycline quickly when they suspect a bacterial tick illness—don’t wait for test results if the patient looks sick.
Testing tools include PCR (best early) and antibody tests (useful later). For babesiosis, labs check blood smears or PCR. Severe infections may need hospital care and different drugs, so tell any clinician you were bitten by a tick.
Prevention is simple and effective. Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET or picaridin on skin, and permethrin on clothing and gear (do not apply permethrin to skin). Wear long sleeves, tuck pants into socks, and walk in the center of trails. Shower within two hours of being outdoors and check your whole body, especially behind ears, in hair, and under arms. Treat pets for ticks and keep yards tidy—short grass, clear brush, and a border of gravel or wood chips help keep ticks away.
If you develop fever, severe headache, rash, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, or any worrying symptoms after a tick bite, seek medical care right away. Early recognition and treatment are the best ways to avoid complications from tick-borne illnesses.
