Many infected people have no symptoms. Most people who experience problems are of advanced age or who have prior medical conditions because Babesiosis is known to weaken the immune system. The symptoms usually occur 1 to 3 weeks after the tick bite. They are loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue and dark urine. These are followed several days later by fever, muscle pain, headache and drenching sweats.
Most people have a mild illness and get better without specific treatment.
The tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever after it has been attached to the person for at least 6 to 10 hours. The symptoms appear within 5 to 10 days after the bite. Fever more than 102 degrees, headache and a rash that appears in almost all patients are the first symptoms. The rash begins on the wrists and ankles and spreads inward to the torso, face, palms and soles of feet. Other symptoms that may develop are stomach pain, diarrhea, eye irritation or infection, confusion, respiratory failure, kidney and heart problems.