Tick trouble: Overview of tick-borne diseases

ABSTRACT

Tick-borne diseases can be severe or even fatal, but when identified early, most can be easily treated. Tick-borne diseases often present with nonspecific symptoms. Therefore it is important for the primary care physician to be familiar with the epidemiology of these diseases and their presentations. Although Lyme disease is the most common and well-known of the many tick-borne diseases, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis are also threats throughout the United States.