A tick will attach itself to the warm parts of the body and feed on blood, passing on any illness it carries in the act. Ticks can hold a number of diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Early elimination of the tick can help prevent transmission of those diseases. Watch for such symptoms as rashes, muscle aches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and headache within the weeks following a tick bite, since these can be signs and symptoms of tick-related diseases.