Colorado Tick Fever - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Colorado Tick Fever Definition

Colorado tick fever is a benign infection that results from the Colorado tick fever arbovirus and is transmitted to humans by a tick. Colorado tick fever is an acute viral infection transmitted by the bite of the Dermacentor andersoni tick. Colorado tick fever may be characterized by mild symptoms and intermittent fever. Colorado Tick Fever is an illness caused by a virus carried by small mammals.

it is more common in men than in women. Colorado tick fever apparently confers long-lasting immunity against reinfection. Colorado tick fecer is also known as mountain tick fever, mountain fever, american mountain fever, wood tick, Colorado tick fever.

Colorado Tick Fever Causes

Colorado tick fever is an illness caused by a virus of the Reovirus family carried by small mammals, such as ground squirrels, porcupines, and chipmunks, and by ticks. Colorado tick fever is transmitted to humans. The adult tick acquires the virus when it bites infected rodents and remains permanently infective. Colorado tick feve is a double-stranded RNA virus. Colorado tick fever has been found in eight different species of tick, but the predominant tick vector is Dermacentor andersoni.

Some cases have been associated with exposures to the virus in laboratory settings and one case followed transfusion of blood from a person infected with Colorado tick fever virus within 4 months of donation. The highest numbers of colorado tick fever occurring in between may and june.

Colorado Tick Fever Symptoms

Symptoms start in between 3 to 6 days after the tick bite. Symptoms of fever continue for 3 days, stop, then recur 1 to 3 days later for another few days.

The symptoms of the colorado tick fever may be included:

• chills
• nausea
• headache
• photophobia
• joint stiffness
• occasional faint rash
• abrupt onset of fever
• sweating, excessive
• severe muscle aches
• nausea and vomiting
• generalized weakness

Colorado Tick Fever Treatments

In case of colorado tick fever, If complications develop, treatment may be aimed at controlling the symptoms, combating secondary infection, and maintaining fluid balance.

Make sure the tick is fully removed from the skin. Take a pain reliever if necessary.

Salicylates should not be used because of thrombocytopenia and the rare occurrence of bleeding disorders following colorado tick fever virus infection.