Lyme disease

The most common early sign of lyme disease is the appearance of a rash on the skin that looks like a "bull's eye". The rash begins as a reddened area near the area of the tick bite. As the rash gets bigger, it clears in the center and develops a red ring around the outer perimeter. Other symptoms include muscle or joint aches, stiff neck, headache, weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes and other flu-like symptoms.

Update Date: 1/2/2011

Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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