Symptoms start with a sudden onset of flu-like aches and pain, headache, chills, confusion, light sensitivity and high fever. Symptoms start with repeating bouts of high fever and chills lasting 2-9 days alternating with afebrile periods. Tick paralysis - A potentially fatal reaction to a paralyzing toxin secreted in the saliva of female ticks late in their feeding. This can cause respiratory failure and death. Death in young children can occur in one to two days.
Treatment is to remove the tick.