There are more than 900 species of ticks identified in the world, of which 20 live in Spain. Experts warn of its proliferation in our country, and some municipalities, such as Zaragoza, have been forced to launch a disinfection campaign in city parks. It is important to be very careful with ticks because the diseases they transmit are potentially deadly.
Lyne disease
Also known by the name of borreliosis, it is the best-known disease of all those transmitted by ticks to humans. As its name suggests, it is produced by bacteria that belong to the Borrelia genus .
One of the main problems it presents is that the diagnosis is very complicated . And the fact is that the symptoms, in addition to being very diverse, are often confused with those of other diseases such as the flu: fever, headache, fatigue, chills and muscle aches.
They usually appear three to seven days after an infected tick bite. Doctors usually confirm that it is Lyme disease when patients have a red rash called erythema migratori or in the area of the bite.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
In April a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was confirmed in Salamanca, and there is currently a “suspicious” case in Valladolid. It is a viral disease with a mortality rate of between 10% and 40% .
Symptoms appear suddenly, and the most common are: fever, muscle pain, dizziness, headache, eye irritation, and photophobia . As the infection progresses without treatment, others such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and mood swings may appear.
Viral encephalitis
The last of the diseases most commonly transmitted by ticks is viral encephalitis. It is an infection that can cause brain swelling, cognitive decline, and memory loss.
The most vulnerable population groups are those under one year of age and those over 55, although it can occur in people of any age.
With regard to symptoms , they are: high fever, vomiting, stiff back, headache, confusion, dizziness, amnesia, and, in the most severe cases, paralysis and seizures.
