It starts as a small bump from the bite and may turn into a rash after a few days or weeks. If not treated early, it may spread to other parts of the body. Causes A recently discovered germ named Borrelia burgdorferi is the cause. It is spread only by tick bites, and cannot be passed from one person to another. The ticks that spread Lyme disease usually live on deer, rabbits, and mice, but also can be found on dogs.
Infections are most frequent in the late spring and summer.
You can get sick anywhere from 3 days to a month after being bitten. Some people don't remember the bite. Soon after an infected bite, a small red bump appears and then grows bigger, usually with a clear area in the middle that looks like a bull's-eye. You may develop other symptoms that seem like the flu, including muscle pain, headache, stiff neck, fever, chills, and tiredness. Weeks, months, or even years later, you may develop joint pain and eye, heart, or nerve problems.