Key points
- Symptoms of Heartland virus disease (Heartland) can include fever, fatigue (feeling tired), decreased appetite, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain.
- If you think you or a family member might have Heartland, talk with your healthcare provider.
- There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Heartland.
- Rest, fluids, and pain medications may relieve symptoms.
Symptoms
The time from infected tick bite to feeling sick (incubation period) ranges from a few days to two weeks. Signs and symptoms of Heartland are often similar to those of other tickborne illnesses, such as ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis.
- Most people infected with Heartland virus experience fever, fatigue (feeling tired), decreased appetite, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain.
- Some people also have lower than normal counts of white blood cells, which help fight infections, and lower than normal counts of platelets, which help prevent bleeding.
- Tests to check how well the liver is working (liver function tests) can show increased levels of liver enzymes.
Diagnosis
If you think you or a family member might have Heartland, talk with your healthcare provider.
- Healthcare providers diagnose Heartland based on:
- Signs and symptoms
- History of living in or traveling to an area where Heartland virus is known to circulate
- History of possible exposure to the ticks that can carry Heartland virus
- Blood tests
- Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for Heartland virus infection and other infections that cause similar symptoms.
To learn more about testing, visit our Healthcare Providers page.
Treatment
- There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Heartland. Antibiotics do not treat viruses.
- Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medications may relieve some symptoms.
- Some patients may need to be hospitalized for intravenous fluids and supportive care for pain, fever, or other related problems.
To learn more about treatment, visit our Healthcare Providers page.