Lyme disease: What does a tick bite look like?

Lyme disease, a bacterial infection which is spread to humans through bites from infected ticks, is ‘increasing rapidly’, with the number of people who’ve been diagnosed with the disease, including several celebrities, rising.

Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include a circular red rash, flu-like symptoms and – if the infection is not treated swiftly with antibiotics – it can cause nerve and heart problems, pain and swelling in the joints, and trouble concentrating for years.

Therefore it’s important for people to be able to recognise what tick bites look like, and the tell-tale red rash that can be the first sign that a person has Lyme disease.

What does a tick bite look like?

A tick bite usually results in a small red bump – similar to the bump you get when a mosquito bites you – and it will likely go away after a few days.

The bites aren’t always painful, so it’s important to check your skin for ticks and bites after you’ve been outdoors.

The distinctive red rash associated with Lyme disease is circular and forms a pattern not unlike a bullseye – but it’s important to note that not everyone who gets Lyme disease will get a rash.

These rashes can develop up to three months after a person has been bitten, but most of the time they will be noticeable within the first month after the bite.

The NHS points out that the majority of tick bites are harmless, and that only a small amount of ticks carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease in humans.

If you spot a tick on your body, don’t panic – you can use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it.

Then simply disinfect the bite.

The NHS also stipulates that you should see a GP if you’ve been bitten by a tick or been in an area in the last month where infected ticks have been found and you have flu-like symptoms (headaches, aching muscles, nausea) or a circular bullseye rash.

This article was fist published on August 1, 2019.