Is Your Rash a Bug Bite — or the First Sign of Lyme Disease?

Could that itchy red bump be just a bug bite—or the first sign of something more serious? Lyme disease often starts with a rash that looks harmless but can lead to serious health problems if not treated early. Knowing what to look for could help you catch it before it gets worse.

Lyme disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. You can get it from the bite of an infected deer tick, also known as a blacklegged tick, not a bug bite. These ticks are most common in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., but Lyme disease has also been found in Canada, Europe, and even parts of South America.

It is often misunderstood as causing tiredness and joint pain. But the truth is, it can do far more damage if it’s not caught and treated early. The infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. In some cases, it can severely impact daily life and even become life-threatening.

Around 60–70% of people with Lyme disease never recall being bitten. Ticks are tiny—about the size of a poppy seed—and their bite is usually painless, making them easy to miss. Another reason Lyme is so complex is that people often have other infections at the same time or mistake it for a harmless bug bite rash. These co-infections can include parasites, which can make symptoms worse and harder to treat.

The disease was first discovered in the 1970s when a group of children in Lyme, Connecticut, were misdiagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Doctors later found the real cause: tick bites carrying the Borrelia bacteria.

While antibiotics can often treat Lyme disease when caught early, late or missed cases can lead to serious long-term health problems. If you have chronic symptoms that aren’t getting better, it’s worth talking to your doctor about testing for Lyme.

Symptoms and Stages of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease symptoms usually show up in three stages. They can vary from person to person, and not everyone experiences all of them. Here’s what to look out for:

1. Early Localized Lyme Disease (3 to 30 days after the bite):

This is the first stage of Lyme disease and often the easiest to treat if caught early.

• Red, expanding rash called erythema migrans, often in a bull’s-eye pattern
• Rash appears in about 70–80% of cases
• Rash may feel warm but is usually not itchy or painful
• Flu-like symptoms: Fever, Chills, Headache, Extreme tiredness, Muscle and joint aches, and Swollen lymph nodes
• Some people have flu-like symptoms without a rash

2. Early Disseminated Lyme Disease (a few weeks after the bite):

If the infection isn’t treated, it can start to spread through the body.

• Additional rashes on other parts of the body
• Neck stiffness or pain
• Facial palsy (drooping or weakness on one or both sides of the face)
• Numbness, tingling, or nerve pain in the hands or feet
• Dizziness or shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis)
• Eye pain or swelling

3. Late Disseminated Lyme Disease (months after the bite):

This final stage can cause more serious and long-lasting symptoms if the disease is still untreated.

• Arthritis, especially in large joints like the knees
• Swollen, stiff, and painful joints (symptoms may come and go)
• Long-term nerve pain or numbness
• Memory problems or trouble focusing ("brain fog")
• In rare cases, infection may affect the brain or spinal cord

If you’ve been in a tick-prone area and notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor. Early treatment with antibiotics can help stop the disease before it becomes more serious.

Management and Treatment

Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics. The most common ones are doxycycline and amoxicillin. These medicines work well, especially if you start them early. How long you need to take the antibiotics depends on how far the disease has spread. Most people start to feel better within a few weeks. The sooner you begin treatment, the faster and more fully you’ll recover.

If you’re pregnant and get Lyme disease, you should also get treatment. It’s safe and important for both you and your baby. There’s no strong proof that Lyme disease can be passed from a mother to her unborn child or that it causes miscarriage, but it’s still important to get care right away.

Final Thoughts

Lyme disease may start small, but it can grow into a big health problem if it's missed or ignored. That’s why knowing the early signs, getting checked after tick exposure, and starting treatment quickly matter so much. Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse—early action can protect your joints, heart, and brain from serious damage.

Stay alert, especially in tick-prone areas, and talk to a doctor if anything feels off after spending time outdoors.