Extension for Real Life

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever vs. Lyme Disease

Tick bites can result in many different illnesses and many of those illnesses have similar symptoms. It’s important to recognize the symptoms if there is a chance that you have been bitten by a tick. Getting treatment as soon as possible is key to reducing the risk of serious illness and, with some tick-borne diseases, the possibility of life-long complications or death.

Lab tests can help your doctor determine if you have a tick-borne illness, which one, and treatment.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease are both bacterial infections and are spread by ticks found in Mississippi.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

• This disease spreads through the bite of ticks that carry the Ricksettia ricksettsii bacteria, including the American dog tick, brown dog tick, and Rocky Mountain wood tick.
• Most common symptoms are fever, headache, and rash. Other symptoms include nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, muscle pain, and lack of appetite. Learn more about all the signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• Left untreated, it can rapidly progress and lead to death.

For more information on Rocky Mountain spotted fever, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, website. 

Lyme disease

• This disease spreads through the bite of blacklegged ticks that carry the Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii bacteria.
• Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and sometimes a rash. If a rash develops, it may not always appear as the classic bull’s-eye rash. Other symptoms include chills, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.
• Left untreated, it can spread to the heart, joints and nervous system.

For more information on Lyme disease, visit the CDC website.

How to protect yourself

The best protection from tick-borne illnesses is to protect yourself from tick bites. Ticks are active year-round, but especially in warmer months—from April through September.

If you spend time outdoors, even in your own yard, you could be bitten by a tick. Use EPA-registered insect repellants that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. If you are spending time where ticks like to hang out, including in heavily wooded areas or places with tall grass, consider using repellants made specifically for treating clothing.

And don’t forget about your pets! Protecting pets from ticks also protects you and your family.

Learn more about how to protect yourself from ticks on the CDC website.