Lyme Disease
In Wisconsin, infected blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) can carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases; and these diseases are increasing. According to the CDC, Wisconsin had 5,327 cases of Lyme disease in 2022. The average number of reported cases has more than doubled over the past 15 years.
Recognizing and treating tickborne diseases early is important. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, the state’s most frequently reported tickborne illness, may occur 3 days to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick and can include a characteristic rash called an erythema migrans (EM) rash, fever and chills, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash is circular and red initially and expands over several days, though it may not occur in all cases. The disease is easily treated with antibiotics when detected early. If left untreated, Lyme disease can result in debilitating arthritis and serious heart and nervous system complications.
Other tickborne illnesses range from mild to severe and include anaplasmosis, the state’s second highest reported tickborne illness, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus disease. Signs and symptoms of these illnesses can include fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, joint pain, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite. Severe cases can include a change in mental status, paralysis and coma, and can be fatal. Unlike anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, Powassan virus infections are not treatable with antibiotics.
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is a potentially serious illness caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick). This type of tick is commonly found throughout Wisconsin, including rural and wooded areas in Forest County.
Early Symptoms of Anaplasmosis may include;
· Fever and Chills
· Severe Headache
· Muscle Aches
· Nausea
· Vomiting or Diarrhea
· Loss of appetite.
If left untreated, anaplasmosis can lead to more severe health complications such as respiratory failure, bleeding disorders, organ failure, or even death—especially in individuals with weakened immune systems or other underlying health conditions.
If you have recently been bitten by a tick, or have removed a tick from your body, and begin experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider promptly. Your provider can order specialized blood tests to diagnose anaplasmosis or rule out other tick-borne illnesses with similar symptoms.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is a disease caused primarily by blacklegged (deer) ticks that infects red blood cells. Many people with Babesiosis do not feel sick and have no symptoms. However, some people might get flu-like symptoms, such as: fever, chills, sweats, headache, body ache, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. Additionally, since the parasites attack red blood cells, babesiosis can lead to hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia occurs when your red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. If you have recently been bitten by a tick, or have removed a tick from your body, and begin experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider promptly. Your provider can order specialized blood tests to diagnose babesiosis or rule out other tick-borne illnesses with similar symptoms.