Identifying Tick-borne Illnesses

Fairfax County health department participates in tick survey to protect communities.
By Brynn Grimley/June 16, 2005

McLean, Va -- Headaches, nausea, aching joints, high fevers, chills, rashes and fatigue.

In 2003 Nick Penning of Arlington, experienced some of these symptoms three days after finding a tick on his leg. For two years, he has experienced severe symptoms and deals with joint aches, nausea and fatigue on a regular basis.
"Almost every morning I woke up moaning," said Penning about the months after his tick bite. "The pain was unbelievable."

Although Penning showed symptoms during the summer of 2003, it wasn't until April 2004 that a doctor diagnosed him with Lyme Disease, a tick-borne illness, and offered him appropriate treatment.