Lyme disease and those funny looking spots - do you get them with anythign else?

[mindalina]

Subject says it all really... Have got what I thought was an insect bite but it's stuck around for a couple of weeks and now developed a red ring around. Can't imagine how or where I could have got a tick bite but this mark looks so much like the rash/spot that goes with lyme disease... Can you get similar marks from anything else? Am going to doctor's shortly, but stressing a fair bit.

[walkthedinosaur]

When I got Lyme's disease I first thought it was an ingrowing hair on my leg and left it for about three weeks until it was so painful I couldn't stand my trousers rubbing it and I coulnd't sleep. It was the pain of it that made me go to the doctors in the end. I don't remember having anything else, that was the only symptom. If it is Lyme's you have my sympathy though because the antibiotics are really strong and I spent about 3 weeks feeling incredibly spaced out.

The mark on my leg was just bigger than a 50p piece and I still have a scar from it today 3 years later.

[ChopsTheDuck]

red ring round it sounds like it is more likely to be a bit of infection. Good luck at the gp.

[mindalina]

Thanks for replying My spot is quite a bit smaller, about the size of a penny - doesn't hurt, but has been unbearably itchy from time to time over the last couple of weeks.

Did you just have antibiotics and then everything was fine? That's good to hear - I once worked with someone who'd lost the use of their legs from lyme disease, so I think I am winding myself up unnecessarily by imagining the worst.

[mindalina]

Oops, x-posted. Here's hoping it's just an infected bite, thanks

[Honneybunny]

think it might be ringworm? You can find pictures of the skinrash from ringworm if you search google images for it. From what you described the size, appearance and itchiness of your rash sounds a bit like it.

you'd want to have it checked by gp though!
lyme's disease is not just spread by ticks (very occasionally moskitos and other insects can carry it). but your gp can probably diagnose from seeing your rash. my ds2 is currently being tested for it, but i think he's probably got it, as he's had the rash, and now is suffering from facial palsy and possibly arthritis in his knees .