Colorado Tick Fever - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Introduction

Colorado tick fever is a viral infection prevalent in the Rocky Mountain region and western parts of Canada. Ticks are external parasites present abundantly in the area. The condition usually shows up after a few days of contracting the infection and has symptoms similar to the flu. Treatment of Colorado tick fever involves taking sufficient rest, staying hydrated, and taking medications to alleviate symptoms like high-grade fever and headaches.

What Is Colorado Tick Fever?

Colorado tick fever is an uncommon disease caused by the Colorado tick fever (CTF) virus. The Colorado tick fever virus spreads through the bite of an infected tick (external parasites). The Rocky Mountain wood ticks that cause the infection is the most common. Small brown parasites known as ticks are most frequently seen in fields and woods. Moreover, they often carry certain diseases that they can transmit to those they bite. One of the many diseases that ticks can spread is Colorado tick fever. This condition is prevalent in the western United States of America, Canada, and places of moderate altitude. Colorado tick fever frequently occurs in springtime or early summer. Colorado tick fever manifests as a sudden outbreak after about five days of contracting the virus or a tick bite.

What Are the Other Names of Colorado Tick Fever?

Alternative names for Colorado tick fever are:

• Mountain fever.

• Mountain tick fever.

• CTF (Colorado Tick Fever).

What Causes Colorado Tick Fever?

• Colorado tick fever is a viral disease.

• The disease is caused by the virus of the Coltivirus family. Coltivirus is a family of viruses that can infect both vertebrates and invertebrates.

• The Colorado tick fever virus infects humans after they get transmitted through a tick bite (Rocky Mountain wood tick). When ticks consume the blood of a reservoir animal, they contract the Colorado tick fever virus.

• The virus cannot be transmitted from one person to another through contact, except in infrequent circumstances, like a blood transfusion.

• The Rocky Mountain wood tick, which is most prevalent in the western United States, often inhabits forests above 5,000 feet.

What Are the Symptoms of Colorado Tick Fever?

The incubation period of Colorado tick fever (time between infection exposure and appearance of the first symptom) ranges between 1 day to 14 days. The common symptoms of Colorado tick fever are:

• Flu-like symptoms.

• About 50 percent of the people affected by the disease experience "biphasic" fever. This indicates that individuals experience a few days of fever, followed by a few days of feeling well, and then a second brief episode of fever and illness.

• Chills.

• Headache.

• Body ache.

• High-grade fever.

• Feeling tired.

• Photophobia (increased sensitivity to light).

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Fatigue.

• Loss of appetite.

• Muscular pain in legs and back.

• Red rashes.

• Enlargement of the spleen (mild splenomegaly).

• Rarely, some patients may develop a more severe condition that affects the central nervous system and causes symptoms, including disorientation and stiff necks.

• The membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord may become acutely inflamed as a symptom. However, these severe illnesses affecting children's central nervous system are rare.

Is Colorado Tick Fever a Common Condition?

• Colorado tick fever is a rare condition.

• It affects both men and women equally.

• The infection is prevalent in the Rocky Mountains and western parts of Canada.

• In the regions where the wood tick is found abundantly, several hundreds of cases are reported annually.

Who Is at Risk for Infection With Colorado Tick Fever Virus?

• People bitten by a tick in a region where the virus is present can get Colorado tick fever.

• The likelihood of being exposed to ticks is highest for those who work outside or engage in outdoor activities.

How Is Colorado Tick Fever Diagnosed?

Several physical and clinical examinations and various laboratory tests are used to confirm the diagnosis of Colorado tick fever. The diagnosis involves the following tests:

• Complete Fixation Antibody Test: Special proteins called antibodies aid in the defense against deadly agents like germs and viruses. The complete fixation antibody test examines whether the blood has antibodies to the Colorado tick fever virus. A diagnosis of Colorado tick fever is established if antibodies to the virus are discovered.

• Complete Blood Count: This screening test counts the body's white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets. This broad-spectrum blood test can assist medical professionals in pinpointing the precise cause of symptoms.

• Liver Function Test: The liver function test measures blood levels of proteins, liver enzymes, and bilirubin to assess how efficiently the liver is functioning. Impaired liver function may be a symptom of Colorado tick fever since the disease can adversely affect the liver.

How Is Colorado Tick Fever Treated?

• There is not one absolute treatment modality for Colorado tick fever.

• After the symptoms appear first, they usually subside on their own within ten days.

• Acetaminophen and other painkillers can be used to treat fever and muscle aches.

• It is important to get rest and stay hydrated for a speedy recovery.

• Supportive care is used to treat severe illnesses and may include hospitalization, intravenous fluids, painkillers to lower temperature and pain, and other measures.

• It is also crucial to remove the tick from the skin. The tick can be removed safely with the help of tweezers. Washing and cleaning the bite area with soap and water is also crucial.

What Are the Complications of Colorado Tick Fever?

Complications of Colorado tick fever include:

• Encephalitis: Brain swelling or inflammation caused by an infection or allergic reaction is known as encephalitis. Colorado tick fever is a viral infection that may cause encephalitis in rare cases.

• Meningitis: Meningitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord due to viral or bacterial infections. It is a life-threatening condition that may occur in rare cases of Colorado tick fever.

• Hemorrhagic Fever: Viral hemorrhagic fevers are contagious diseases that can result in severe and potentially fatal diseases. They can impair the blood's capacity to clot and harm the walls of blood vessels, causing them to leak.

These complications are potentially life-threatening, and they should be treated immediately.

Can Colorado Tick Fever Be Prevented?

Colorado tick fever cannot be prevented with a vaccination. The greatest method to avoid Colorado tick fever is to lower your risk of being bitten by a tick. The following measures should be taken to prevent tick bites:

• Using good quality insect repellent.

• Wearing covered clothes with long sleeves and full-length pants.

• Avoiding woods and areas with high grass.

• After being outdoors, perform comprehensive tick checks and get rid of any attached ticks as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Colorado tick fever usually has a good prognosis, and most of the cases are self-limiting, and they get better on their own within a week. Most people who are sick have minor illnesses and fully recover. But weakness and lethargy could persist for several weeks. Rarely, some patients may develop a more serious condition that affects the central nervous system and causes symptoms including disorientation and stiffness of the neck.