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Home / Lyme Disease Education Resources / Think the Lyme Disease Rash is Always a Bullseye? THINK AGAIN!

Think the Lyme Disease Rash is Always a Bullseye? THINK AGAIN!

May 7, 2020 By Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

Rash myths and misconceptions set straight

Lyme disease rash is:

  • Sometimes but not usually a ring within a ring Bull’s-eye rash appearance
  • Often mistaken for a spider bite but is not a spider bite
  • Not always present. Not everyone has a rash.

Characteristics of Lyme disease rash:

  • Large expanding red round rash
  • Greater than 2” in diameter
  • Bull’s eye appearance of rash appears in the minority of Lyme disease cases
  • Uniformly red in the majority of cases

A leading cause of misdiagnosis is the failure to recognize the Lyme disease rash, when present.

Available blood tests are antibody-based for Lyme disease and do not accurately diagnose Lyme disease in the first few weeks of infection. False negative tests are a problem in acute Lyme disease. Therefore, early Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis. Recognizing signs and symptoms can be vital to receiving appropriate early treatment and patient care, especially in the COVID-19 era.

Telehealth Rash Consultation Services

Tick bite and Lyme disease rash consultation* is available by telemedicine appointment at the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center. A telehealth visit requires the ability to digitally photograph the patient’s skin rash for the evaluation and to meet certain State insurance parameters.

* Only available currently to patients in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Delaware.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month Information


Did you know that Lyme disease can affect your eyes?

How informed are you about Lyme Disease?

COVID-19 or Lyme Disease Featured

How to Distinguish the Signs & Symptoms of Acute Lyme Disease from COVID-19?

How to Distinguish the Symptoms of Acute Lyme Disease and Acute COVID-19

Lessons from Long Haul Lyme Disease and Long Haul COVID

Lyme Disease Rash Presentations May Not Be What You Think

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Filed Under: Lyme Disease Awareness, Lyme Disease Education Resources Tagged With: Johns Hopkins 2020 Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign

Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center

The Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center is focused on patient-based research in all manifestations of Lyme disease. Our goal is to translate our pioneering research into improved patient care, education, and health outcomes.

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All information contained within the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center website is intended for educational purposes only. Physicians and other health care professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm the information contained within this site. Consumers should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something they may have read on this website.

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