What common symptoms may follow a tick bite if infected?

The symptoms that commonly follow a tick bite, particularly if the tick is infected with pathogens such as those causing Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typically include severe headaches, fever, and chills. These symptoms are part of the body's response to the infection and can begin to manifest within days to weeks after the bite.

Severe headaches are often indicative of the central nervous system's reaction to infection, while fever is a typical systemic response, signaling that the body is fighting off the invading pathogens. Chills frequently accompany a fever due to the body's attempt to regulate its temperature in the face of infection.

Other options listed, although they may seem plausible, do not accurately represent the most common symptoms associated with tick-borne illnesses. For instance, while joint pain and nausea may occur in some circumstances, they are not the hallmark symptoms of many tick-borne diseases. Similarly, diarrhea, fatigue, skin rash, and easy bruising, while they can occur in various medical situations, are not typically associated with initial responses to tick-borne infections. Thus, option B encapsulates the most critical and common symptoms associated with infection following a tick bite.