Identifying Tick-Borne Illnesses: Key Signs and Symptoms

Tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease and RMSF, often present with fever, headache, and photophobia. Other common symptoms include lymphopenia, hyponatremia, and thrombocytopenia. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with doxycycline within the first four days is crucial to prevent severe morbidity and mortality. Geographic variation is important to consider, with Lyme disease more prevalent in the Northeast and upper Midwest, while rickettsial diseases are common in the Southeast and Midwest. Clinical suspicion is key, and laboratory confirmation is not necessary to initiate treatment.