Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of an infected deer tick. Early Lyme disease symptoms include an expanding red rash, fever, and body aches days to weeks after a bite. Early treatment with antibiotics works well.

What Is It

Deer ticks are common in northern Illinois woods, tall grass, and forest preserves from spring through fall. Most tick bites do not cause Lyme disease. The risk rises when a tick stays attached for 36 hours or more. Many people never notice the bite, because young ticks are as small as a poppy seed.

Symptoms

A red rash that grows over days, often more than 2 inches wide
A bullseye pattern with a clearer center, in some people
Fever and chills
Headache, tiredness, and body aches
Joint pain or swelling, often in the knees
Later, drooping on one side of the face or a racing heartbeat

Not sure it’s Lyme disease? A small red bump right at the bite in the first day or two is usually a normal reaction. Itchy bumps from mosquitoes and other bugs are covered under insect bites and stings.

Treatment

At your visit: A tick should be removed whole, including one that is deep or broken off. After a deer tick bite, a single preventive antibiotic dose may be used. Early Lyme disease is diagnosed by the rash and history and treated with antibiotics for 10 to 21 days.

At home:

Remove a tick with fine tweezers, pulling straight up with steady pressure
Clean the bite with soap and water
Save the tick in a sealed bag and note the date
Watch the bite and your health for 30 days

Most people with early Lyme disease recover fully with treatment.

When to Get Care for a Tick Bite

Watch at Home

A tick removed within a day, with no rash
A small red bump at the bite that fades
Feeling well

Come to Urgent Care Today

A tick you cannot remove, or one attached for over a day
A red rash growing from the bite site
Fever, aches, or tiredness within 30 days of a bite
New joint pain or swelling after a tick bite
A deer tick bite in the last 3 days, to ask about preventive treatment

Go to the Emergency Department

Drooping or weakness on one side of the face
Chest pain, fainting, or a very slow or irregular heartbeat
Severe headache with a stiff neck
Trouble breathing or swelling of the face after a bite

FAQ

What are the first signs of Lyme disease?

The first sign of Lyme disease is usually a red rash that grows over several days, 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. Fever, headache, and body aches often come with it.

How soon after a tick bite do Lyme disease symptoms start?

Lyme disease symptoms usually start 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. Later symptoms, like joint pain or facial drooping, can appear weeks to months later.

Does every tick bite need antibiotics?

Not every tick bite needs antibiotics. A single preventive dose may help after a deer tick bite that was attached 36 hours or more, if given within 3 days of removal.

Does Lyme disease always cause a bullseye rash?

No, Lyme disease does not always cause a bullseye rash. Many rashes are solid red and simply grow larger. Some people never get a rash at all.

Can urgent care treat Lyme disease?

Yes, urgent care can diagnose and treat early Lyme disease. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can remove a tick and discuss preventive treatment. No appointment or referral is needed.

How do I remove a tick safely?

Remove a tick by grasping it close to the skin with fine tweezers and pulling straight up with steady pressure. Do not twist, burn, or cover it with petroleum jelly.

Last reviewed October 2026