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Bug bite w/rash. Should I worry...?

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Posted 8/19/2009 3:13 PM (GMT -5)
Hi all,

I was vacationing in central California on the coast last month and noticed a bug bite on the inside of my arm. It looked like it had formed a little dried-blood scab (a little wider than a pencil lead) which I proceeded to pick off. I don't think it was a tick body, but am unsure. I am sure that it wasn't a mosquito bite.

A few days later, the bite formed a light-pink flat rash which in time grew to be about 2 inches in diameter, with an oval shape. I had very mild itching in the area. The rash faded completely after 2 weeks.

In the meantime (within days of the bite, and in the weeks since) I've been having headaches, fatigue, and muscle pain focused in my neck, shoulders and biceps. These symptoms are somewhat like I get when I'm having sinus problems, so that is a possibility. The strange thing though is that the symptoms are not getting better with bed rest. Also, I have weird muscle spasms (little jerks) in my biceps the past couple of days.

I have no idea how to proceed at this point. Any advice?

Many thanks! :)

Post Edited (lookingaround) : 8/19/2009 2:27:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/19/2009 3:39 PM (GMT -5)
I would definitely suggest seeing a doctor. It doesn't sound to me like Lyme because Lyme rashes don't itch, but there are a number of tick/insect bourne infections that you should be tested for.
Posted 8/19/2009 3:54 PM (GMT -5)
I don't know. I read on some sites that occasionally the Lyme rash will be mildly itchy, which mine was.

I'm just afraid that I have it, and tests won't show it because they're not accurate, and I'll be stuck living feeling lousy all the time! I did go to a walk-in clinic about a week after the bite and they did a white-blood-cell test to see if I was fighting an infection of any kind. It turned up negative so they sent me on my way...

I am really scared but I don't know if I'm just being paranoid.
Posted 8/19/2009 4:05 PM (GMT -5)
It certainly sounds like you may have an infection, but what kind, I could not say. If you can get checked out, I would ask your doctor to test you for anything tick or insect borne. Unfortunately, the symptoms of Lyme mimic other infections. Your symptoms don't necessarily suggest Lyme, but it's possible. It's best to get checked out, preferably by someone with experience in Lyme and other related infections.
Posted 8/19/2009 4:15 PM (GMT -5)
Definitely get it checked out. It is better to be safe than sorry. Good luck.
Posted 8/20/2009 3:17 AM (GMT -5)
Hi lookingaround,

I've heard of bulls eye rashes itching. Did you get a picture of it? Here is a site with pictures of EM rashes:

http://www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html
Posted 8/20/2009 3:52 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Looking around,

It sounds like the bite you got did something. Who knows what? Since you don't know what bit you, I would recommend process of illumination.

I live in Southern California and am pretty diverse in Calif. overall. There are not a lot of Lyme cases in central CA resulting from central CA exposure, to the best of my knowledge, and coastal areas are highly unlikely from what I have been told.

I only know this because I live in the LA (SoCal) area. My Lyme did not come from California. I do know that.

I don't know where you live. Is it an area that is tick or mosquito infested?

All of these questions will be asked of you by a doctor to help identify the proper tests to perform for potential co-infections in addition to the requesdted Lyme test and Western Blot.

I can tell you that various strains of flu are on the up rise in Calif.

Swine flu is very prevalent in this region. You might check for that but, by all means have the doctor do tests on anything that may be connected to your symptoms....including Lyme.

Good luck to you!
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