African Tick Bite Fever

African tick bite fever is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, as the name suggests. The organism that causes tick bite fever belongs to the Rickettsial family of bacteria.

African Tick Bite Fever Facts

When the tick bites a human, the bacterium is transmitted in the saliva.
There is no vaccine against tick bite fever, and taking prophylactic antibiotics has never been shown to be effective or necessary.

Example of an African tick

African Tick Bite Fever Symptoms

The incubation period (the period between being infected and displaying symptoms) is about five to seven days.
Symptoms of tick bite infection may include fever, headache, malaise and a skin rash.
There is often an eschar at the site of the tick bite. This is a black mark that looks like a small ulcer (2-5mm in diameter) with a black centre or scab.
Severity of illness can vary considerably.

Tick Eschar

Summary For African Travellers and Hunters

Hunters walking through the African bush are almost always going to pick up some ticks. These ticks are often noticed once they have attached to the body.
For advice on tick removal, go to Health During Hunt
This infection can be easily treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline or tetracycline. If you are on a long hunt, it is a good idea to bring a course of antibiotics for this event.
Measures to prevent the infection are generally common sense, such as wearing insect repellents including permethrin impregnated clothing, long trousers and sleeves.