The bulls-eye rash that can sometimes occur after a tick bite can take up to a month to disappear, but you should not just sit back and wait for it to go because it is a symptom of Lyme’s Disease, which is spread by tick bites.
Fortunately, the vast majority of tick bites do not result in Lyme Disease, but if you have been bitten by a tick, you should be on the look-out for the symptoms (though it has to be said that the majority of Lyme Disease sufferers have no idea that they have been bitten).
A bulls-eye rash is so-called because of its appearance. It is a circular rash, with a central red spot in the middle, surrounded by clear skin, surrounded by a red circular ring. This can appear up to two weeks after the bite, though many people with Lyme’s Disease do not get this rash. This rash can be warm to the touch but it is not usually painful or itchy.
Sometimes the person who has the rash will also have flu-like symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, headache, fatigue and aching muscles. Sometimes, the infection will just go away on its own, but for other people, if it is left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and sometimes can have quite serious effects, such as joint or heart problems, though this is a rare occurrence for children and teenagers.
Because there is such a wide range of symptoms, it is often difficult for doctors to diagnose but there are blood tests that can be done to confirm (or otherwise) the diagnosis.
If you have a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic, just make sure that the whole thing is removed and clean the area with antiseptic.
Fortunately, the vast majority of tick bites do not result in Lyme Disease, but if you have been bitten by a tick, you should be on the look-out for the symptoms (though it has to be said that the majority of Lyme Disease sufferers have no idea that they have been bitten).
A bulls-eye rash is so-called because of its appearance. It is a circular rash, with a central red spot in the middle, surrounded by clear skin, surrounded by a red circular ring. This can appear up to two weeks after the bite, though many people with Lyme’s Disease do not get this rash. This rash can be warm to the touch but it is not usually painful or itchy.
Sometimes the person who has the rash will also have flu-like symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, headache, fatigue and aching muscles. Sometimes, the infection will just go away on its own, but for other people, if it is left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and sometimes can have quite serious effects, such as joint or heart problems, though this is a rare occurrence for children and teenagers.
Because there is such a wide range of symptoms, it is often difficult for doctors to diagnose but there are blood tests that can be done to confirm (or otherwise) the diagnosis.
If you have a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic, just make sure that the whole thing is removed and clean the area with antiseptic.
