Colorado tick fever is a virus that is transmitted from the bite of an infected wood tick. This virus should not be confused with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is a bacterial infection.
Colorado tick fever, so named because of its prevalence in the Western states, can be a very painful disease. Symptoms are usually borne out in stages. The first stage can include muscle pain, fever chills and vomiting, along with a rash. The second stage can include the return of a high fever and more of the same symptoms from stage one. Children can be hospitalized with the disease and acute cases have included meningitis.
The wood tick that carries Colorado fever is usually found in the high mountain areas of Colorado and Idaho. Wood ticks will not emerge in the hot, summer months. They come out in the cooler fall, and will attach themselves to a host that passes by. The tick will secrete a cement-like substance from its mouth to help bond to the host and will infect that cement substance into the host at the bite area. If a tick is unable to find a host before winter, it will remain in the soil until spring.
To help prevent Colorado tick fever, make sure when you are in the woods to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily that attach to you. After a hike, be sure to check for ticks thoroughly on yourself and your pets. Ticks can be very small and hard to spot so make sure you do a complete “tick check” on yourself.
If a tick bites you, seek medical help. Many of the symptoms of Colorado tick fever can appear within 3-20 days, so be sure you are vigilant and aware of the symptoms.