What disease can ticks carry and what are its symptoms?

Lyme disease is a well-documented illness transmitted primarily through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. The symptoms of Lyme disease typically manifest in several stages. In the early stage, individuals may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and muscular discomfort. A characteristic feature of Lyme disease is the erythema migrans rash, which often appears as a "bull's-eye" pattern around the site of the tick bite. This multi-symptom profile highlights the importance of early recognition and treatment, as untreated Lyme disease can progress to more severe complications, including joint pain, neurological problems, and cardiovascular issues.

The other options present diseases not primarily associated with ticks. For example, West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and primarily leads to fever and neurological consequences. The Zika virus, also mosquito-borne, is characterized by rash and joint pain but does not involve tick transmission. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, while serious and transmitted by ticks, is not characterized by the same range of nonspecific early symptoms as Lyme disease.