Tick-Borne Illness Can Lead to Hospitalization if Left Untreated

Anaplasmosis and other tick-borne illnesses are a serious concern in our local, rural communities, especially this time of year. In 2025, Bassett Healthcare Network diagnosed twice as many anaplasmosis cases than the year before and saw twice as many anaplasmosis hospitalizations. Several cases have already been diagnosed this year.

In as many as 95% of all anaplasmosis cases, the patient experiences a fever. Many people who are ultimately diagnosed also experience flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, and headaches. Less frequently, a person may experience nausea or vomiting.

Anyone who lives in our area is at risk for tick bites, even if they don’t spend much time outdoors. So, if you feel like you have the “summer flu” or start feeling generally unwell (even without fever), you should seek medical care quickly, even if you don’t recall being bitten by a tick. A simple blood test can confirm or rule out the diagnosis of anaplasmosis.

When care is prompt, anaplasmosis can often be cured easily with an antibiotic called doxycycline. However, when care is delayed – even by a few days – anaplasmosis can develop into a severe illness that may require hospitalization.

Henry Weil, MD, Chief Clinical and Academic Officer for Bassett Healthcare Network and President of Bassett Medical Center, knows both through his work as a physician and now firsthand how important prompt action is after a tick bite.

Dr. Weil’s Diagnosis

In the summer of 2025, Dr. Weil started to feel unwell during a trip out of town. It started with feeling rundown and progressed into chills, aches, pains, and a sense something wasn’t right.

“Years ago, I co-wrote a book chapter about tick-borne diseases with leading experts from Yale University, so I immediately thought there was a pretty good chance that this was Lyme disease, babesiosis, or anaplasmosis,” said Dr. Weil.

Since Dr. Weil was on the road, several days passed between when he first started to feel unwell and when he was able to begin taking doxycycline and get diagnosed with anaplasmosis. He believes that delay in treatment may have led to lingering symptoms.

“My friends tend to be outdoorsy people, so after my experience with anaplasmosis, I warned many of them to watch out for this. Four of them ended up being diagnosed with anaplasmosis by the end of last year,” said Dr. Weil. “Even though I told them and they were prepared to take action, one of those friends spent time in the intensive care unit.”

Research shows that as many as one in three people who are sick enough to seek care and test positive for anaplasmosis become so sick they require hospitalization. Patients may suffer kidney damage and require dialysis or experience inflammation of the heart muscle, as well as inflammation elsewhere in the body. After their time in the hospital, one in five patients require a stay in short term rehab and another one in five require home health nursing care. This illness can take a long time to fully recover from.

“My message to the public is ‘please do not delay treatment.’ If you feel like something is wrong, go see a doctor, and if they suggest it, get a test for tick borne illnesses, and follow their advice if they recommend antibiotics,” said Dr. Weil.

Prevention Is Key

The best way to prevent any tick-borne disease is to take proactive steps to reduce your risk of being bitten. Tick season typically runs from April to November in our local region, but ticks can be active whenever temperatures outside are above 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

When you come indoors after being outside, change your clothing and do a full body check. Put clothes straight into the dryer for at least 20 minutes so that the heat can kill any ticks that might be on them. During your body check, pay extra attention to places that are warm, moist, or hidden, including the hair, underarms, elbows, knees, groin, and bellybutton.

If you know you will be spending time in a wooded, grassy area where ticks are especially active, like a hiking trail, the CDC recommends using an EPA-registered insect repellent. For exposed skin, products containing DEET (25–35%), picaridin (IR3535) or oil of lemon eucalyptus can be effective options when used according to label instructions. Permethrin is a separate product that is applied to clothing, boots, and gear before it is worn — never put it directly on the skin — and should be allowed to dry fully before the clothing is worn. Pretreated permethrin clothing is also commercially available. Always read and follow product label instructions. Please note that wet permethrin is highly toxic to some animals. Consult your healthcare provider with questions about use during pregnancy or for young children.

Choose long pants instead of shorts so that pant legs can be tucked into socks, creating a barrier against ticks. Wearing light colors can also make it easier to spot any ticks you might encounter.

If you find a crawling tick, flush it down the toilet. If you find a tick attached to your skin, use pointed tweezers to remove it. Grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull the tick away from the skin with steady pressure. Do not twist or squeeze its body. The tick should then be disposed of and you should begin monitoring yourself for symptoms.

Any patients concerned they may have anaplasmosis or another tick-borne illness are encouraged to see their primary care practitioner, visit a Bassett convenient care location, or make an On Demand Video Visit using the MyBassett app.

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.