When to seek medical attention

You should seek medical attention if...
Signs and Symptoms of Tick-borne Infectious Diseases (Australia)
Were you tested for Spotted Fever?

You should seek medical attention if...

If you become ill after tick bite.
If you experience a severe allergic reaction e.g. with breathing difficulty - seek medical attention urgently.
Possibly if removing ticks - particularly when access to the tick is difficult, when children or the elderly are affected or when allergic reactions are a concern.

Signs and Symptoms of Tick-borne Infectious Diseases (Australia)

Australian Spotted Fever

Australian Spotted Fever is also known as Queensland Tick Typhus (QTT), Australian Tick Typhus, Rickettsial Spotted Fever and Spotted Fever. It is caused by infection with the bacterium Rickettsia australis.

Signs/Symptoms	Frequency
fever	usual
headache	usual
muscle aches	usual
eschar	65% of cases
lymph node swelling	usual
stiff neck	possible
nausea	possible
vomiting	possible
mental confusion	possible
spotted rash	possible
joint pain	possible
conjunctivitis	possible
sore throat	possible
dry cough	possible
abdominal pain	possible
neurological signs	possible

Many other diseases include some of these signs and symptoms. However, the more of these present, particularly if there has been known tick bite in the preceding 2 weeks, the more that blood testing for Australian Spotted Fever is warranted.

Lyme-like Disease

Signs/Symptoms	Frequency
fever	usual
headache	usual
muscle aches	usual
'bullseye' rash (erythema migrans)	20% of cases
fatigue	usual
sore throat	usual
joint pain & swelling	possible
meningitis	possible
facial paralysis	possible
heart palpitations	possible
breathlessness	possible
lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis, secondary annular skin lesions, meningitis, peripheral neuritis carditis, atrioventricular nodal block, brief attacks of remitting and relapsing asymmetric oligo-articular arthritis in large joints, chronic arthritis, acrodermatitis, behavioural changes, chronic fatigue, severe headaches, memory problems, cardiopathy, encephalopathy, axonal polyneuropathy, leuko-encephalopathy, depression, mood/personality changes, psychosis, dementia, memory impairment, inability to concentrate, sleep disturbance, fatigue, abnormalities of sensation, photophobia (may cause faintness, nausea, and/or panic, resulting in misdiagnosis as a panic attack), phonophobia (can cause falling or vomiting), loss of libido, difficulties speaking or writing, getting lost in familiar places	possible

If a rash appears after 48 hours of tickbite or within several weeks, you may ask your doctor to send a skin biopsy for Lyme culture to PaLMS at Royal North Shore Hospital - before giving antibiotics. For specific instructions about skin biopsy collection and transportation to PaLMS call: 9926 8480.

Were you tested for Spotted Fever?

If your doctor tests you for Spotted Fever, please remember to return for a second test 10 days later. It is important have the second test to prove the diagnosis.