Lyme Disease
What is Lyme disease?
If you have a bulls-eye rash and possibly a fever, headache or muscle pain, then you may have Lyme Disease. Believe it or not, it’s caused by a mouse, but not like you would think. The mouse has Borrelia burgdorferi (boar-ELL-ee-uh burg-dorf-ERR-eye) and is bitten by a tick that then bites you. These ticks are very small and very hard to see.
The Bulls eye rash that appears around 7 to 14 days doesn’t always happen and some people can still have the flu like symptoms that can come with Lyme disease.
It is important to get medical attention and without it, the bacteria can makes its way into the entire body that could cause rashes that appear in areas never bitten by the tic. If not treated, pain, swelling and mood changes can occur months after being bitten!
Preventing Lyme Disease
- Avoid entering areas that are home to ticks in the spring and summer months.
- If you are in a tick infested area, wear clothing that is lightly colored which will help you spot ticks. Also, make sure your entire body is clothed and that skin is not exposed.
- Bug spray that contains DEET (n,n-diethyl-m-toluamide) can be applied to clothes and exposed skin.
- You can use Permethrin on cloths which kills tics dead (and fast) but make sure not to come in contact with skin.
The photo to the left is of the Ixodes Tick which is classified as a hard tick, due to the presence of a dorsal plate.
If you find a tick embedded into your skin, use teasers and pull straight out. Be sure not to twist as you pull or part of the tick’s body could end up inside your skin and cause an infection. After you have removed the tick, clean the area with antiseptic.
Ticks love foliage such as leaf piles (I know, children love to play in them, but so do ticks!). They can also be found in piles of wood, such as those we use for fire, etc.
If you discover a tic embedded in your skin, make sure to watch that area and be area of flu-like symptoms. If you think you may have Lyme disease, let your doctor know and they’ll be able to tell you for sure.
Written by Jim on June 17th, 2007 with
35 comments.
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Not sure how to reply but lots of folks seem to report the bullseye rash associated with Lyme disease. The other person with peeling inside out rash and numbness sounds like a Brown recluse bite – all of you should see a doctor asap!
Peace, and Universal Health Care for ALL,
(I am not a doctor) Univ. Health Care Singer
Hi, I went fishing with my husband a week ago. I got bit by something , But this bite itches and it hurts clean to the nerve it feels like and it looks like a linty purple color in the middle of the bite it was all red around it, the redness is going away but it stIll hurts like crap like its going to the nerve WHAT CAN IT BE?
I have this dry red patchy area on my leg and it’s about the size of a quarter and it’s kind of raised up. I have had it for over a month. then I noticed another on but smaller on my other leg. What do you think it is?
i have been diagnosed with lyme disease, however over the past week i have been getting a rash starting at the original site and spreading up my legs and my back. it is particularly around my knee caps and elbows. they itch like crazy and they look like small white bumps. can you please tell me how to get rid of this and if the medication i am taking for the lyme disease will make it go away.
Hi Madelyn,
You need antibiotics and if you were infected within the last year, perhaps a few weeks or months, but if longer than a year, you may need them for longer. The fact the rash is back and spreading means it’s disseminated (not local infection anymore) Julia.
I woke up with a perfect round red target! It lasted for 2 days! I am afraid I was bitten by spider or have lime disease… I have had headaches, and sore back muscles.. My doctor said to wait a month to check for anti bodies… If it is lime disease, is it curable?
I have been moody, tired… Can anybody show me pictures of what this might be?
Mike,
If you haven’t done this yet, you need antibiotics as soon as possible. The doctor should not have made you wait. The blood tests are almost always inaccurate. But if you had a round red target, and those symptoms you describe, that is Lyme disease.
Because it has been two months, you should see a Lyme specialist as soon as possible. Most doctors know nothing about Lyme disease so you really need to see a Lyme specialist (Lyme Literate M.D., or LLMD) for treatment.
You can find one on the Lyme Disease Association Doctor Referral page:
Good luck.
i had lyme disease last year and i found a rash on the back of my leg that was red but in the sun turned bluish purple. i didnt actually think it was lyme disease until a couple weeks later beaause half of my face became paralyzed due to bells palsy. if you think you have it it really doesnt hurt to go to the doctors because if you DO have it and you leave it untreated it will leave some reallllly damaging results
Anyone who suspects Lyme Disease must immediately begin research and get themselves educated about this disease that mimics over 300 diseases. It affects every system in the body and is very difficult to eradicate, in spite of what many MD’s believe. I was bitten thirteen years ago in Alberta Canada where Lyme Disease was said by authorities that it was impossible to get here. FALSE!
Recently after much research and taking it upon myself to resume trying to get a diagnoses ..now I have one and hope to begin antibiotic treatment to stop the damage. I have been unable to work for twelve years because what it does neurologiacally and the pain throughout the body day and night. It is very serious and do get antibiotic treatment when you are bitten,,keep looking for a doctor who is Lyme literat. This is your life.
Hi,
I was camping with my friend Jay and she got bit by these ticks. She has 2 grape fruit sized bites on her thigh, and one on her ankle. First of all, Is is contagious? And Secondly, Is this a serious disease (and pain) that stays with you?
Thanks!
My sister-In law suffers from Lyme Disease.
Its so horrible to watch her in such pain and theres no cure.
And shes so young shes 30 yrs old with 2 kids.
I think they need to find a cure or give once a yr shot’s to
prevent Lyme Disease.
my 4 yr old son was fishing with his father and we took the preventable measures to protect our son but it came to be that he did indeed have a tiny tick inbedded in his skin on his stomach. Pulled it out and noticed the head was still in. We took him to his pcp, who basically said it has never been reported that anyone has contracted Lyme Disease with a tick that has been imbedded under 48-72 hours. I do not have faith in the pcp system and now 5 days later my son has developed a high temp of 104 and is complaining of neck pain.
I asked for antibiotics and was told this is not a good choice b/c each time you give a child a abx that they fall risk of resistive bacteria& when the need is really there the abx do not work any longer and you will put him at risk. I asked for the rx incase and am contiplating getting it filled. I feel no one around here really knows how long, when the earliest the symptoms can show and blood tests are useless most of the time. I am a chronic suffer of this illness for 25 years now and I was misdiagnosed initially and do not want the same for my son. I feel torn between what I know and what every article is telling me along with the impression from the doc that there is no chance of infection. I will admit I am super sensitive to the issue.
concerned mother
when i was 16 i broke out in an itchy red rash all over my body. I went to my pcp and he told me it was hives and to take benadryl. after about a week they subsided and became tolerable but then i started getting the rash around my joints and having swelling and pain in my joints as well. my pcp then tested me for lyme on two separate occasions and they came back negative. he also sent me to a specialist to see if i had rhuematoid arthritis and nothing came of that. both dr.’s seemed perplexed by my symptoms. since then i have been living with these symptoms on and off. I am 26 now and for the past month i have been having moderate jiont pain in my fingers wrists and knees with no rash as well as feeling drained of energy. my question is….can you have lyme disease and have the test come back negative.
When does the rash on your body Disappear? Does it stay the same all your life? What about the color of your skin. Its red now, what color will it be in a few months?
Last night I noticed a small bullseye mark on my forearm. The middle has a red bump, about the size of a pinhead, then white around it, and then a bluish-ring around that. It doesn’t really look exactly like any of the pictures.There is no itching or pain, and it’s hard to the touch but not a raised bump. I do walk dogs in grassy areas. I live in central Florida and it’s our winter season now. I never felt anything bite me nor saw a tick on my skins. Does this sound like Lyme or some other type of bite?
Hi,
My name is Perry Fields. I had Chronic Lyme disease and have fully recovered from it. I’m also a professional athlete (in an Olympic sport) who basically lost my career because of Lyme (and a good part of my 20’s) and am now returning to my sport with much success.
I had friend sent me a link to your site. I wanted to know how I can help you and your members and audience.
I’m really here to offer some inspiration for those affected with Lyme because I know it’s so devastating emotionally and physically.
If people suspect they have been bitten, they need to get help ASAP. If they don’t feel sick after camping in the woods or gardening or doing anything outside, the need to get treatment ASAP or it becomes very had to get rid of.
Regards,
Perry Fields
US Track and Field
http://www.BeatLyme.com
Last night while I was rubbing my husbands back I noticed something on his skin…I thought it was a zit so I left it be. Tonight while I was rubbing his back I notice the bump was detatched somewhat thinking it was indeed a mole that was breaking off- which can be dangerous. I turned on the light and it was a tick the size of a lemon seed (maybe a bit bigger) on his back. I pulled it out with my best tweezers and my husband was certain that I didn’t get it. He burned a needle and requested I dig out the remainder of the head. I did this. He couldn’t feel a thing and I was rough- squeezing it like a zit and digging out skin that I thought might be the dorsal plate. Anyway, now it is circular and HARD. He still cannot feel it and is pretty freaked out. I called the nurseline and she said there was nothing to worry about other than an infection caused by the needle. She suggested antiseptic and tripple antibiotic (which I had already done) and for him to visit his physician in the AM. He technically had this tick on him for over 24 hours…he thinks longer as he was the day before yesterday and NOT yesterday. UH OH….now what?
Jim, from In. trip to Marthas Vinyard l983 contact with tick and Lyme Not ever hearing of the disease and yes I had the bullseye rash, sluffed it off as spider bite in motel room. Meningitis, was the first symptom followed by all of the others. It was the worst time of my life, and I had spent a year in body brace in 78 no comparison to the Lyme. It is a horrible disease and soooo underdiagnosed that it scares me everytime I think of those out there not knowing anymore than I did when I got it. In l989 my gp took it upon himself to do a spinal tap and blood work for Lyme after I contacted some people through computer. All were positive for Lyme, the spinal tap did not at that time recognize it as Borrelia Burgdorpheri but as infectious disorder. My doc treated me after he called East Coast for correct amount of antibiotics, I thank God for him everyday, even after all this time. I had 6 weeks iv drugs plus one year oral.
Need I say this? I was well from Lyme, I am almost ashamed to tell this to those out there who never get cured of the disease. Strange about the same time that Lyme became prevelent, Fibromyagia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also became known. Could it be they are all the same and at least a doctor can come up with a diagnosis that he doesnt have to argue with the insurance companies or the cdc on why they cant treat all of these nuts that think they have Lyme disease. I think the best thing for those who cannot get treatment if they can afford it is to go out of the country, possibly Canada or Germany not Mexico and get help, or one better . Go to your local veternarian.
They are much more clued into this disease and know that it is a problem and that you can go crazy with it and also there have been deaths. A pregnant woman must get help if she gets bite because Lyme will pass on to the fetus. The vets possibly more intelligent than the medical docs???? Strange if you go into them tell them your animal is lethargic and sick, they will automatically check for Lyme disease. I have two pictures on my camera of my grandaughters leg that I took last fall after she went horse back riding in Indiana, did I say In??? Yep, oh I forgot we dont have the ticks in In that cause Lyme duhhhh. These are perfect bullseye rash, but being a senior, I am not sure how to get it onto my computer to send to you, if you will tell me I will send to you. I took the pictures and grandaughter to gp, he took one look at them and said this is the most typical Lyme rash I have seen yet. Tested her, but went ahead and treated her with oral antibiotics immediately did not want to wait until tests were back, 2 weeks later done with antibiotics tests came back positive for Lyme Now what are the chances of my grandaughter here in Indiana getting bit and myself in Conneticut l983 also getting bit if this disease is not prevelent??? Dilch I am telling you this disease is thick and it is getting ignored.
All it takes is for the fda or the cdc to say lets treat it now and not wait until meningitis, bells palsey or wheelchair is the next level for individuals. I do not like antibiotics and will do anything to keep from taking them because of the thrush and candiadias they cause plus I have reactions to them, but believe me, I have already pulled off three ticks this spring from working in the yard and trimming trees and leaf raking, if I get down sick again, I will go to the ends of the earth to get help before I end up like I was at my lowest part of Lyme. I realize this is a long letter I am sorry but want to get point across that people need to recognize this disorder when they first get it, I think if I were let go again and the doctor would deny me treatment a lawsuit would be in the works. These doctors are sworn to help those out there who are hurting , not diagnose them as nuts. Remember Al Capone,? He died of syphlis another spirochetal disease just like Lyme and he went crazy and blind before he died. How many out there will have to die from the Lyme before we get a decent test and the cdc agrees to let up on the guidlines so someone can be treated early rather than late when the damage is already done. Thank you if you print this probably long and boring note.. cjl
I was bitten by something and assumed it was a spider. I did not remove a tick from this area. It was on the upper part of my thigh next to my panty line. I didn’t notice it until it became very itchy. I began itching it and it felt swollen, so I managed to get a look at it. It was a perfect bulls eye and was swollen. It appeared to look much like a tiny version of a nipple only on the side of my thigh. I went to the doctor was given antibiotics and some hydracortizone cream for the itching. It did finally go away but I have been very sick with flu like symptoms, fatigue much of the time, very sore achy joints and now I have a headache that will not go away. I am wondering if I need to get a different antibiotic since I feel so bad? I am sending a picture of the bite.
If a person was treated for Lyme, what are the chances of not having the swollen joints, headaches and such?
I was bit and received the beautiful bulls eye. Was treated but seem to have arthritis in the knee and possibly in other joints I can feel hurt. Please tell.
Minga
After wks of small red itchy spots I treated with benadry and anti-itch lotion I find a 3 in round bruise-like area with a 1/2 inch white area . Please advise.
You can also put DMOS and Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide on the bite mark. Do a half and half solution of DMSO and Food Grade HP (that’s 35% HP) and dab it on there. That should help.
lately my boyfriend has been feeling very tired, he has a bulls eye on the back of his calf. hes been sent home from work 2 days in a row now because he feels so crappy. he has complained about a headache but has not had a fever or nausea. a coworker and customer took a look at the bite and told him it was from a tick and that he had Lyme disease, but i’m not so sure, everywhere i look on the net it talks bout flu like symptoms and the bite is not pitted in the center like most of the pics i’ve seen
Hi- I got a bulls eye about a year and a half ago which was the size of a baseball on my thigh. I went to the doctor and they told me it was Lymes. I never had an symptoms but took the medication and it faded and went away about two weeks later. Now the past week I have felt awful. Tonight the bulls eye returned to the exact same spot only this time it is painful and a bit larger then a quarter. I will go to the doctor Monday. Any suggestions till then?
hi, Hi, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease over 2 years ago. I was very active hunting with my father sports all types of things. So where I got bitten is not certain. I DID not have the bulls eye mark that you “normally” get. My symptoms consisted of exhaustion, fever, migraines, hair loss, extremely soar joints. Now that was some bad new I was not ready for I ran track (3 miles 2 times a day) and I was informed by my doctor not to run during a flare up. Now the only thing I will say is if you think you have signs of lymes and your doctor says no. Get a 2 or 3rd opinion. It took me to get to the 4th doctor for him to find out I have 3% of it in my blood it had been 5 months since I started feeling sick. At this point medicine would not help me so for the past 2 ½ years I suffer with the flare ups of lymes. IF you suspect anything please get checked. I do not wish this suffering on anyone and there is nothing I can do to fix it.
I think my teenage daughter was bitten by a tick. It was attached to her Rt.underarm, not knowing what it was at the time, I grabbed at the bug and pulled it out. The bug is still alive (we saved it in a jar) and it appears that it still has its head. Right now, she has a tiny red mark on her skin and it feels slightly raised. We live in the Wash. DC area. What is my next step? Thank you
I must have been bitten 8 days ago, a Sunday. On Thursday I noticed what I thought was a large mosquito bite; on Saturday I realized it had to be a Lyme rash. I went to the emergency room and got antibiotics. I’ve still got the rash (I know it’s not been very long) and I’ve still got fatigue and chills. When can I expect some improvement?
I was out at a lake Sunday evening picking berries and taking photos. The next day I noticed what looked and felt like mosquito bites. There was one on the back of my thigh, that was really irritating, It was red swollen, and itchy. I thought nothing of it. Then on Friday, where what I thought were just mosquito bites, had turned into something like a bulls eye. Its light colored in the middle and dark red, almost bruising like around. I went to the hospital today (Saturday) they are treating it like Lyme disease. I admit im afraid. I was hoping i was just bit by spiders. I have 3 total bulls eyes and two complete red/bruising like circles. What should I do? Im from Scranton Pa. Anyone know any good doctors that specialize in Lyme disease? They said they wouldn’t do the blood work at the hospital, because the likely hood is that the test will come back negative, even if I do have it. I’ll try sending some pictures, once I take them.
Last night, I found a very small red bulls-eye bite on my arm. It wasn’t itchy or painful and I didn’t have a tick on me, but had been in wooden areas where they live. By morning, the bulls-eye had faded on it’s own, and looked like a regular mosquito bite. It was slightly red and itchy, and hard underneath, but not swollen. When I touch it, it gets itchier, but doesn’t really bother me otherwise. I haven’t had any flu-like symptoms yet, but could this be Lyme Disease? Are there other bug bites that can be a bulls-eye mark?
Thanks for helping!
i too came back from camping one day and had a round marking on my leg with a red center encircled by a red/purpleish ring that stayed the size of a quarter for about a week and slowly faded. I am wondering if this is lyme disease i dont remember being bit by a tick but we slept out side with out a tent near sonora california. What doyou think? I havent been sick or anything.
My son is 13 and has been diagnose with Lyme disease. His test elisa has come back positive twice and I need to know what doctor can see him around the lancaster PA that would take unison. I feel I need more answers.
I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease in July 2005. Medical Doctors in Ohio believe that lyme disease is not in this state. Even the renowned Cleveland Clinic has no specialist for it. I used the treatment described on the website. Salt tablets and Vitamin C. and cured my lyme disease.
Within 5 month I was feeling like a normal person. I stay on a maintenance dose to this day. I don’t remember being bit by a tick but my symptoms started in 1986 and steadily got worse. My symptoms were joint and muscle pain, multiple auto-immune disorders, neurological disorders, Organ involvement. Flare-ups will happen in the spring and fall. Another excellent reading source is the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients (jan 2005 issue) everything you could every want to know about lyme disease.
This is to all who may experience anything like this. I was out in the exercise room for quite a while and awoke the next morning with a random blister on my leg, i thought if i popped it it would for the most part go away. days later it was the size of half my palm. the doctor said it may be Lyme disease, but all that did was frighten me. don’t be worried, if it is white with a red ring around it, it is indeed ringworm, which is nothing serious at all. just wash your hands frequently and do not itch the infected area, as you may spread it with ease. i hope this gets to someone out there.
Hi, please I need help!
I have a bulls eye in my arm and i have skin rashes like stretch marks on my legs and arms, and i have been will all the symptoms. Is it a serious disease? Is it contagious? I don’t know what to do I’m really frustrated!
Can anybody tell me if this could take up to 2 years for symptoms of nerve pain and joint pain. I have a grandson that has every test possible and no negative results. They have done a blood test or lime disease however we have not gotten it back yet. Does anybody have any answers to this..
Thank you