Colorado tick fever is a virus infection usually transmitted to you through an adult wood tick bite. Most cases of this disease occur in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado during outdoor activities (camping, hiking) in late spring and summer. However, you are at risk of this infectious disease while recreating in the mountainous areas of Utah, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by a wood tick bite as well, but its infection is with bacteria.
A suggestive symptom that you have Colorado tick fever is a sudden fever that lasts for couple days, subsides briefly and then returns more severely for another few days. Besides a coming and going fever, this virus infection may cause symptoms of:
- chills
- sweats
- myalgia
- headache
- sore throat
- photophobia
- petehcial rash
- abdominal pain
- nausea, vomiting
- general weakness
Many of these symptoms could be caused by other infections or diseases. Rare complications of Colorado tick fever are aseptic meningitis, encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever.
Since Colorado tick fever is caused by a virus there is no drug available to kill its pathogen. Analgesics and acetaminophen can help relieve fever and pain symptoms. (Never give aspirin to children suffering from a viral infection because of Reye syndrome risk). Most recover recover fully without lasting effects.
