A couple of summers ago I noticed a bulls-eye rash mark on my chest. "Oh great," I thought, "Lyme Disease...just what I need..." I'd read about Lyme Disease, and tick bites are an every day thing in rural Missouri.

I called my doctor to make an appointment. Over the phone the doctor asked several questions: How long had I had the rash-marks? Was I feeling sick? Did I have joint or muscle pain? Then he told me that I probably didn't have Lyme Disease. He said that Lyme isn't common in central Missouri, but STARI--Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (Master' Disease)--is widespread. Because the bulls-eye rash is similar the two are often mis-diagnosed.
Other than the bulls-eye marking STARI has no particular symptoms, nor is there any treatment called for, although STARI is sometimes treated with antibiotics.

Two years, and the bulls-eye rash has faded, but is still visible. Other than that there haven't been any affects.