Lone Star Tick Diseases

Lone star tick diseases are illnesses you can get through the bite of a lone star tick. Ticks are bugs that can be as small as a poppy seed. As adults, female lone star ticks have a white dot on their back (the “lone star”). They live in and around wooded areas in the Midwestern and Eastern parts of the U.S.

Diseases lone star ticks spread include:

• Alpha-gal syndrome (“red meat allergy”)
• Bourbon virus disease
• Ehrlichiosis
• Heartland virus disease
• Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), which has symptoms similar to Lyme disease
• Tularemia

Many of these illnesses can be severe if not treated right away.

Symptoms of lone star tick diseases

Symptoms of lone star tick diseases depend on which illness you have. Some symptoms could include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle pain or soreness
• Tiredness
• Rash or hives
• An open wound (ulcer or lesion) on your skin
• Painful, swollen lymph nodes
• Digestive symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea and loss of appetite
• Eye symptoms like pain, watering, sensitivity to light or corneal ulceration

Lone star tick bites can also severely irritate your skin without causing other symptoms. The area around the bite might itch, swell, turn red or be lighter or darker than the skin around it. This doesn’t necessarily mean the tick infected you with a germ.

How long does it take to get sick from a lone star tick?

It can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks to develop symptoms after a tick bites you.

Lone star tick disease causes

Bacteria and viruses cause lone star tick diseases. Experts don’t know what causes STARI.

Ticks don’t just bite you and leave like mosquitos. They latch on and burrow their heads into your skin, feeding for a day or longer. During this time, they can transmit diseases.

Complications

If not treated quickly enough, some lone star tick diseases can lead to serious or life-threatening complications, including:

• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or respiratory failure
• Renal failure (acute kidney injury)
• Internal bleeding (hemorrhaging)
• Sepsis
• Brain inflammation (meningoencephalitis)
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Coma

Alpha-gal syndrome can cause anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) when you eat red meat or products that contain animal proteins.

How doctors diagnose lone star tick diseases

To diagnose a disease caused by a lone star tick bite, a healthcare provider will give you a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms and health history. It’s important for them to know if you’ve recently (within the past three weeks) been in an area where you could’ve been bitten by a tick, even if you don’t remember being bitten.

They might also get blood tests or a bacterial culture to look for signs of infection. If they think you have an illness caused by bacteria, they may need to start treating you right away, before the culture tests come back.

Is there a cure for lone star tick diseases?

There’s no single cure for lone star tick diseases, as they have different causes. Diseases caused by bacteria are treated with antibiotics. Those caused by viruses don’t have a specific treatment.

If your symptoms are severe, you may need to be treated in the hospital with IV (intravenous) fluids, IV antibiotics or pain medications. Getting rest, drinking fluids and taking over-the-counter medications (if recommended by your provider) can help your symptoms while you recover.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If you’ve been bitten by a tick or have been in an area with ticks and have symptoms, see a healthcare provider right away.

Go to the nearest ER if you experience:

• Fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius)
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion or other mental changes
• Severe stomach (abdominal) pain
• Seizures
• Swelling of your face, mouth, tongue or throat

Can lone star tick diseases be prevented?

Avoiding tick bites is the best way to reduce your risk of lone star tick diseases. Some strategies include:

• Keep grass cut shorter than 5 inches.
• Stay on cleared paths while in wooded areas.
• Use bug sprays with DEET or other ingredients approved to keep ticks away.
• Use clothing to cover as much of your skin as possible when you’re in the woods or areas with long grass.
• Check yourself for ticks after you’ve been outside. If possible, have someone else check you in places you can’t see yourself (like your back and scalp).
• Ask your veterinarian about the best way to protect your pets from ticks. Check your pets for ticks often, especially after they’ve been outside.
• Follow directions for safely removing a tick if you find one on you.

What happens if you get bitten by a lone star tick?

If you find a tick biting you, don’t panic. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the tick by its head as close to the skin as possible (don’t squeeze the body of the tick). Make sure the head and mouth parts are attached and not stuck in your skin.

Note how the tick looks — if it’s flat or rounded. This information can help your provider determine how long the tick may have been biting you and your risk for tick-borne illnesses.

What can I expect if I have a lone star tick disease?

You can fully recover from most types of lone star tick diseases if diagnosed and treated right away. It might take several weeks to completely feel better. Alpha-gal syndrome doesn’t have a cure — you’ll have to avoid foods and medications you’re allergic to.