Medically reviewed by Shane D. Naidoo, MD
Medical Director, TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine
Board-Certified, Emergency Medicine
Last reviewed: September 2026
Patients often assume tick-borne illness is a New England or upper-Midwest problem. Lyme disease specifically is uncommon in Florida, but other tick-borne illnesses do circulate here, and Floridians who travel north for the summer return with exposure histories worth knowing.
This post is the practical guide: which tick-borne illnesses we see, the symptoms to watch for, when to come in, and what the workup looks like.
The Tick-Borne Illnesses That Matter In Florida
Ehrlichiosis
Caused by Ehrlichia bacteria, transmitted by the Lone Star tick. Endemic in Florida. Presents 1 to 2 weeks after tick bite with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, sometimes nausea and rash. Untreated can be serious; treatment with doxycycline is highly effective when started early.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
Caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, transmitted by the American dog tick and others. Less common but more dangerous. Sudden high fever, severe headache, muscle aches, classic rash (often appearing on wrists and ankles first) days into the illness. Doxycycline treatment is critical — mortality rises significantly if treatment is delayed beyond 5 days.
Alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy)
Triggered by Lone Star tick bites. Causes a delayed allergic reaction to mammalian meat (beef, pork, lamb). Symptoms include hives, GI distress, sometimes anaphylaxis appearing 3 to 6 hours after eating mammalian meat. Rising in incidence in Florida.
Lyme disease — uncommon but not zero
Lyme is rare in Florida because the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is not the dominant tick species here. Most Florida Lyme cases are imported — travelers returning from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, or upper Midwest. Classic presentation is erythema migrans (the bullseye rash) at the bite site, followed weeks later by joint pain, neurologic symptoms, or cardiac involvement if untreated.
Babesiosis
Rare in Florida, more common in the Northeast. Travelers can return with exposure. Presents with fever, fatigue, sometimes hemolytic anemia. Treatment requires combination antimicrobial therapy.
When To Suspect Tick-Borne Illness
- Known tick bite in the last 30 days, especially attached for 24+ hours
- Outdoor exposure (hiking, gardening, camping) with new fever, headache, or muscle aches
- Recent travel to tick-endemic regions
- Rash with fever, especially rash starting on extremities
- Severe headache and high fever with no clear cause
What To Do If You Find A Tick
- Remove the tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin, pulling steadily upward without twisting
- Clean the bite area with alcohol or soap and water
- Save the tick in a sealed bag if possible — useful for identification
- Note the date and approximate duration of attachment
- Watch for symptoms over the next 30 days: rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain
If the tick was attached for more than 24 hours and you have concerns, come in for evaluation. We can discuss prophylactic doxycycline (a single 200 mg dose given within 72 hours of removal is sometimes used in known Lyme-endemic regions) and observation.
When To Come In
- Tick bite with symptoms developing in days to weeks
- Fever with new rash
- Severe headache with fever
- Joint pain in multiple joints
- Neurologic symptoms (numbness, weakness, facial droop, vision changes)
- Cardiac symptoms (palpitations, syncope) with recent tick exposure
How We Evaluate
Workup typically includes:
- Full clinical exam including detailed look at any rash
- Complete blood count (look for low platelets or low white blood cells)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Inflammation markers
- Tick-borne illness PCR or serology — specific tests for ehrlichiosis, RMSF, Lyme, and others as indicated
- Treatment empirically with doxycycline if RMSF or ehrlichiosis is strongly suspected, while awaiting confirmatory tests
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I take antibiotics after every tick bite?
No, not routinely. Prophylactic doxycycline can be considered for high-risk tick bites in Lyme-endemic regions, but routine prophylaxis is not recommended. Watch for symptoms.
Can a tick give me Lyme in Florida?
Rare but possible. Most Florida Lyme is travel-acquired. Florida ticks more commonly transmit ehrlichiosis and RMSF.
How long does treatment take?
Typically 10 to 14 days of doxycycline for most tick-borne illnesses in Florida. Lyme treatment may be longer depending on stage.
What if I cannot take doxycycline?
Alternative antibiotics exist but are less effective for some of these infections. Pregnant women and young children sometimes need alternative regimens; we evaluate case-by-case.