Uncommon Symptoms That May Indicate a Tick-Borne Illness

Many tick-borne diseases are notoriously challenging to diagnose, partly because of the wide range of symptoms they can present. Even a single type of infection, such as Lyme disease, can look vastly different from one patient to another. Symptoms can also change over time if diseases are left untreated or undertreated.

When it comes to symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans, most people think of fevers, chills, rashes, joint pain, and headaches. While these symptoms can and do show up in many cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, they are not always present. What’s more, there are many lesser-known symptoms associated with a range of tick-borne diseases that may go unnoticed by doctors.

Lesser-known symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans

Aches and pains

Some of the most common symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans include aches and pains, particularly muscle aches and joint pain or swelling (Lyme disease). However, other types of aches and pains associated with tick-borne diseases may go unnoticed by you or your doctor, especially if you are not aware that you may have a tick bite.

Some of these lesser known pain symptoms, and the diseases they’re associated with, include the following:

• Pain along the rib margin and/or bra strap lines has been linked to Bartonella infection, which causes cat scratch disease and trench fever.
• Plantar pain can be present in several tick-borne diseases. This manifests as pain in the sole or heel of the foot, which can be mistaken for plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue band connecting your heel to your toes) if other tick-borne disease symptoms are not taken into account. Stabbing plantar pain has been linked to Bartonellosis, while achy plantar pain could indicate Babesiosis – a malaria-like infection that attacks the red blood cells and can be spread by the same species of ticks that transmit Lyme bacteria.
• Abdominal pain could be a sign of Rickettsiosis, also known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) – especially if accompanied by other RMSF symptoms such as fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting after a tick bite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RMSF is one of the deadliest tick-borne diseases in the Americas. Abdominal pain can also be the result of Bartonella, which can infect both the lining of the GI tract and the abdominal lymph nodes associated with the gut. *Note: If you are experiencing right-sided upper abdominal pain specifically, it may be a symptom of Ehrlichiosis (HME) and Anaplasmosis (HGA).
• Back pain is another lesser-known symptom that can indicate RMSF, particularly if the pain is felt primarily in the muscles.
• Bone pain, mainly in the shins, neck, and back – especially if accompanied by other known symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans – can be a non-specific sign of several tick-borne infections.

Vision, auditory, and other sensory symptoms

In addition to aches and pains, many tick-borne diseases can cause vision and auditory issues such as those listed below:

• Light sensitivity (photophobia) has been linked to Bartonellosis (cat scratch disease).
• Retinal inflammation, which can cause blurred or distorted vision, has also been linked to Bartonellosis.
• Red eyes, clinically referred to as conjunctival injection, can be a sign of Ehrlichiosis (HME) and Anaplasmosis (HGA), both of which can be hard to detect because of the variation in symptoms across patients.
• Sound sensitivity (phonophobia) can be associated with Bartonellosis.
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be a symptom of Babesiosis.
• Burning sensation on the skin and numb skin patches can both be signs of Bartonellosis.

Cognitive, psychological, and neurological symptoms

Several other Tick Talk articles have covered the range of cognitive, psychological, and neurological symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans – particularly in the case of late-stage and chronic Lyme disease or Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF). Many people may be familiar with the sleep disturbances, brain fog, anxiety and depression, and even rage that can be experienced in some cases of untreated or undertreated Lyme disease and TBRF.

However, many may not know the extent of these symptoms and all the diseases that may cause them. For example, some cases of Babesiosis have been linked to the occurrence of vivid (violent) dreams. Also, anxiety and rage are classic signs of Bartonella- even more so than Lyme according to some Lyme Literate Medical Doctors.

Other lesser-known symptoms

Tick-borne diseases can cause a range of nonspecific symptoms affecting multiple body systems, especially if diseases are left to progress. Some miscellaneous symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans include the following:

• A new or persistent dry cough can indicate Babesiosis, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, or the potentially fatal RMSF (typically described as a “hacking dry cough” in this case). This is often missed by physicians as a potential symptom of tick-borne disease, especially if the patient has normal pulmonary test results.
• Easy bruising has been linked to Babesiosis.
• Lightheadedness upon standing (postural hypotension) can also be a sign of Babesiosis, though lightheadedness and dizziness can also both be associated with late-stage or chronic Lyme and TBRF.
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and excessive thirst can both be present in Babesiosis.
• Small bumps under the skin or stretch marks anywhere on the skin can indicate Bartonellosis.
• Swollen glands can be another symptom of Bartonellosis.

In addition, certain clinical signs can be associated with underlying tick-borne infections. For example:

• Anemia or low platelets have been linked to Babesiosis.
• Elevated liver function tests and low white blood cell count can be associated with Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis.
• An enlarged spleen, Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome can all be signs of Bartonellosis.

Determining the source of your symptoms

Again, it’s important to note that symptoms of tick-borne diseases in humans can vary greatly from person to person and can change over time if diseases are not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

The presence of any one of the symptoms above does not alone guarantee that you have a tick-borne disease, but if you do experience them alongside any other potential symptoms, it’s important to talk to a trusted doctor and get tested immediately.

IGeneX is proud to offer highly accurate, highly sensitive diagnostic testing for all major tick-borne diseases in the U.S., including Lyme disease, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Bartonellosis, Babesiosis, and Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. Learn more about IGeneX testing today.

Keep track of ALL your symptoms

In some patients, symptoms come and go so it is important to keep track of all your symptoms, even minor aches and pain or symptoms that might appear unrelated. This will help your doctor with diagnosis.