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What Are The Symptoms Of Lyme Disease?

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Posted on Mon, 19 Oct 2015
Question: I have six red spots on my upper thigh that range from 1/8 inch across to 1/2 inch across. Two of the bigger spots have what appears to be a small white center. I noticed them this afternoon and none of them had white centers. The biggest one seems to be getting bigger than it was. I haven't had a tick bite that I know of, but I'm worried that this might be Lyme Disease. What do you think?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Lyme Disease-suspected skin lesions

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
The classic skin lesion of Lyme Disease is EM (erythema migrans ) ,a single lesion which occurs at the site of tick bite in Early Infection: Stage 1 (Localized Infection).
The lesion has partial central clearing, a bright red outer border, and a target center.
Approximately 20% of patients do not however exhibit this characteristic skin manifestation. You also don't have any history of tick bite.

In Early Infection: Stage 2 patients may develop multiple secondary annular skin lesions similar in appearance to the initial lesion.
Skin involvement is commonly accompanied by severe headache, mild stiffness of the neck, fever, chills, migratory musculoskeletal pain, arthralgias, and profound malaise and fatigue. But you don't have any of the symptoms.

Your description does not fit into EM (erythema migrans ).
However if possible,post close up of lesions without compromising privacy.






Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (14 hours later)
I have a rash.--or a lesion on my upper right thigh. My GP thought that it might be a lesion. He sent me to my dermatologist and he hadn't seen anything like this before. He asked if I'd changed or added new prescriptions, but I haven't. I also haven't changed laundry detergent or fabric softener. He asked if I had been bitten by a bug, and I said that I didn't think so. A nurse friend thought that it looked like I'd been bitten and that I was possibly allergic to it. I first noticed this when it was six small red dots on my upper thigh yesterday about 3:00pm. It was about 4:00pm today when the dermatologist looked at it and drew around it with a marker. I have an appointment with him tomorrow so that he can see how it is progressing. I was afraid that it might have been Lyme disease last night, so I went to this site and told the doctor that the spots all had clear centers. He wrote back and told me that it wasn't Lyme disease. We're all stumped here, and I thought since it had changed a lot since then, I'd write you again with the new symptoms and try to send a picture. You probably won't be able to see that the centers are still there , even if you get the picture. The dermatologist said that this was not XXXXXXX XXXXXXX syndrome--thought you might like to know that
doctor
Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Erythema migrans-suspected Lyme disease

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
You have erythematous somewhat annular patches with a number of satellite lesions on upper thigh. The only skin lesion which this closely resembles is Erythema migrans, the cutaneous manifestation of Lyme disease.
Biopsy of the skin lesion can be subjected to culture of B. burgdorferi-the causative organism of Lyme disease along with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for,both IgM and IgG responses to the spirochete.






Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1975

Answered : 1920 Questions

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What Are The Symptoms Of Lyme Disease?

Brief Answer: Lyme Disease-suspected skin lesions Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns. The classic skin lesion of Lyme Disease is EM (erythema migrans ) ,a single lesion which occurs at the site of tick bite in Early Infection: Stage 1 (Localized Infection). The lesion has partial central clearing, a bright red outer border, and a target center. Approximately 20% of patients do not however exhibit this characteristic skin manifestation. You also don't have any history of tick bite. In Early Infection: Stage 2 patients may develop multiple secondary annular skin lesions similar in appearance to the initial lesion. Skin involvement is commonly accompanied by severe headache, mild stiffness of the neck, fever, chills, migratory musculoskeletal pain, arthralgias, and profound malaise and fatigue. But you don't have any of the symptoms. Your description does not fit into EM (erythema migrans ). However if possible,post close up of lesions without compromising privacy. Regards Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX