Ticks

[gameboy]

Was taking some old fencing down Monday before last. Worked for the first 2 hours of daylight so the dozer could clean the line out for the new fencing. When I got back to the house to shower and go to work, I had a small tick stuck on me just off the side of groin area on my leg. Pulled it off and went on my way. By Wednesday, got to feeling a little off.....by Friday, was doing my best to participate a LBL with KY furtaker but felt so bad, didn't eat and went to bed at 6 and got up at 8 feeling a little better. Driving home Sunday with Fever and head feeling like sunburt but knew it wasn't....slight nausea the whole time since last Wednesday......what the heck is going on??? So I went to the doctor and it was time for my yearly blood work so Doc said lets do it now. He also asked about a tick bite without me saying first. Test came back with all fantastic with the exception of highly elevated liver numbers for both liver tests....you get 2 scores. That and a fever indicates some type of tick disease. Doc gave me a perscription even before the blood test was taken and that has done a complete reversal and back to normal...even went to work today. They are doing a deeper study on the liver deal and results for that will be in the morning. I am sure it isn't serious but will know for sure soon.


The reason I typed this out: The tick that bit me still to this day cause no skin reaction!! No redness, no circle, no welp or raised area and hardly even done the usual intense itch. Another thing is: if you do have a similar experience, go to the doctor quick like I did. I you let it go and it manifests in you, you can have some real health issues. We all have time to take care of ourselves and none of us have time to spend fighting an illness we should have whipped early.

You all take care,

Mark

[DaveM]

Sure glad you got it taken care of quickly and are feeling better. I have heard some bad stories, especially when people didnt get the proper treatment in a timely manner.

[mattbredeweg]

That could of been bad

[jeff1911]

funny you mention that....ive pulled a few out of me this year...woke up Monday feeling like I hadn't slept was aching and wore down couldn't work without sweating like a pig...Tuesday was no better.not much better today..called the va today and made an appt for lyme tests...

[gameboy]

I got the second test which I know now was for Hepatitis A and B. both negative but heck, I had Shots for one or maybe both of those and TB when I was a Fireman. Still not positive it was a tick bite that caused all that but nothing else is proven either. Have felt fine since I typed the first post.

Rooting for the good report Jeff.

[jeff1911]

I don't know what it is but its sure got ahold of me....hvent been able to do anything since last week...wore out, kidneys sore, headache, stomach....cant wait till tomorrow for some tests

[DaveM]

Hope you get it taken care of.

[gameboy]

For information on diagnostic tests for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, please refer to the Tick-borne Diseases of the United States Reference Manual for Health Care Providers.
Treatment
Doxycycline is the first line of treatment for adults and children of all ages with suspected ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever and should be initiated immediately upon suspicion of illness. The use of doxycycline to treat suspected tick-borne illness in children is standard practice recommended by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases. Unlike older tetracyclines, the recommended dose and duration of doxycycline needed to treat tick-borne illness has not been shown to cause staining of permanent teeth. Treatment is most effective at preventing death from Rocky Mountain spotted fever if doxycycline is started in the first five days of symptoms. For information on treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, please refer to the Tick-borne Diseases of the United States Reference Manual for Health Care Providers.
Recommendations  Health care providers should ask about outdoor exposure in the history, including location and dates of exposure.  Health care providers should still consider tick-borne diseases in the differential even if other diagnoses are identified.  Health care providers should not rule out tick-borne disease if there was no recognized tick exposure.  Health care providers should use doxycycline as the first-line treatment for suspected ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever in patients of all ages.  Tick-borne diseases are reportable within 72 hours to the local health department of the county where the patient resides (410 IAC 1-2.5-75).
For more information  Tick-borne Diseases of the United States: A reference manual for healthcare providers: www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/tickbornediseases.pdf  Diagnosis and Management of Tick-borne Rickettsial Diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Ehrlichioses, and Anaplasmosis – United States, A Practical Guide for Health Care and Public Health Professionals: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6502a1.htm?s_cid=rr6502a1_w  Lyme disease — Health Care Providers: www.cdc.gov/lyme/healthcare/index.html  Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) — Health Care Providers: www.cdc.gov/rmsf/healthcare-providers/index.html  Indiana Communicable Disease Rule: www.in.gov/isdh/files/Final_Rule_LSA_.pdf
For questions, please contact Taryn Stevens, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Epidemiologist, at [e-mail] or 317-234-9727.

[gameboy]

Condition Incubation Period
Signs and Symptoms Cutaneous Signs Laboratory Findings
Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichia chaffeensis

Ehrlichia ewingii
1 – 2 weeks  Fever  Headache  Chills  Malaise  Muscle pain  Nausea  Vomiting  Diarrhea  Confusion

 Rash – More commonly reported in children
 Thrombocytopenia  Leukopenia  Anemia  Mild to moderate elevations in hepatic transaminases

Lyme disease

Borrelia burgdorferi
3 – 30 days  Malaise  Headache  Fever  Myalgia  Arthralgia  Lymphadenopathy  Transient arthritis and effusion in one or multiple joints  Cardiac and neurologic manifestations

 Erythema migrans (EM) – red ring-like or homogenous expanding rash  Not present in all cases

 Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate  Mildly elevated hepatic transaminases  Microscopic hematuria or proteinuria
Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rickettsia rickettsii
2 – 14 days  Fever  Chills  Severe headache  Malaise  Myalgia  Nausea  Vomiting  Anorexia  Abdominal pain  Diarrhea  Photophobia  Focal neurologic deficits

 Maculopapular rash – initially appears on the wrists, forearms, and ankles and spreads to trunk; not present in all cases

 Petechial rash – considered a sign of progression to severe disease

[gameboy]

Indiana Health Alert Network Notification – May 23, 2018
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Tick-borne Diseases in Indiana
In 2017, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported over 250 cases of tick-borne disease, including a pediatric fatality due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. ISDH entomologists have already collected live ticks in Indiana in 2018. This advisory provides information on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common tick-borne diseases in Indiana, along with some additional recommendations.
Epidemiology
The most common tick-borne diseases reported in Indiana are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. Cases have been reported year-round, although most cases are reported during the spring and summer months. Ticks that can transmit disease are present throughout the state of Indiana. The distribution of tick-borne diseases varies geographically in the state, with increased prevalence of Lyme disease in northwest Indiana and increased prevalence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis in southern Indiana. However, health care providers are encouraged to consider tick-borne disease in patients throughout the state.
Obtaining a thorough clinical history that includes questions about recent tick exposure, recreational or occupational exposure to tick habitats, and travel to areas where tick-borne diseases are endemic can provide critical information to make a presumptive diagnosis of tick-borne illness. However, the absence of one or more of these factors does not exclude a diagnosis of tick-borne disease. Absence of a reported tick bite is common and has been associated with delays in treatment. Activities such as playing in a backyard, visiting a park, and gardening should be considered to be potential tick exposures.
Clinical presentation
Many cases of tick-borne disease begin with non-specific flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, chills, and myalgia. The table below lists signs and symptoms commonly seen with tick-borne diseases in Indiana. However, it is important to note that few people will develop all signs and symptoms, and the number and combination of symptoms varies greatly from person to person. Due to the life-threatening nature of these infections, treatment should always be initiated upon first suspicion of ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

[gameboy]

I got my 2nd blood test back today and Liver counts are almost back to normal. Doxycycline is exactly what my Doctor prescribed for me and whatever it was, it done the trick best I can tell.

[DaveM]

I had a tick on me last night, but noticed it before it latched on. Kinda makes me pay more attention now.

[jeff1911]

i'm feeling better but not the same as usual....I spent Tuesday in the VA er....running tests they say....the lyme and others have come back yet...the doc their diagnosed me with exhaustion...so I got a bit angry about that...told them they don't know what work is...I aint a fing pencil pusher or a desk bum. I work a hard physical job every d**n day....why would I wake up exhausted on a Monday morning?...keep looking....doc said take some time off and rest up....I asked him if he was gonna pay my bills?....I don't work I don't eat.....

ive been in the va system for almost 2 years now and I aint impressed....

[gameboy]

Jeff, I still don't know what I had but I was really drug out and tired in the beginning. I guess there is some different type of virus or whatever out there that gets at us different than what we are used to. Take care of yourself.

[jeff1911]

thanks mark....the lyme and others came back negative.....and they don't know what was/ is wrong with me...I have an appt in a couple weeks they can start looking again...

felt that same way...really wore down, been napping d**n near every afternoon...sure aint like me...