01
Buy or check a working digital thermometer; readings should be oral or ear, not just touch.
02
Take temperature once daily, around the same time, for 30 days.
03
Log the reading and any symptoms (headache, chills, muscle aches) in a notes app or paper log.
04
A reading of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher is fever and is a tick-borne-illness red flag.
05
Call the clinician the same day with the bite date, location, attachment estimate, and tick species if known.
06
RMSF, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis can all present as fever without a rash early on.