Lyme disease?

[Apparition]

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Hi, I'm not using this forum as a substitute for a doctor's appointment. The appointment is tomorrow morning but I'm kind of worried right now.
My mom has neck pain that hasn't gone away for about 3 weeks. She experiences pain when she turns her head and also feels some tickling. She went to a doctor, who for some reason, didn't even want to look at it. She had a normal blood test.

Now we remembered that about a month ago she came home with what looked like a mosquito bite and was sore. I looked at her neck closely today and she has two brownish circles (small circle and around it abigger one) on a side of her neck. Is this most likely lyme disease? The larger circle is about 3 cm in diameter. Does the size usually predict the stage? Will antibiotics probably help? Sorry if these are stupid questions, I'm only a pre-med.

Thanks a lot.

 

[principessa]

Your mother could have Lyme disease. The circles you describe sound like erythema migrans, the "bullseye" rash that is often seen in people with Lyme. As far as I know, the size of the rash has nothing to do with the stage or severity of the disease. A lot of people don't even get it. If it is Lyme, they will probably give her a broad spectrum antibiotic like doxycycline. Lyme disease responds fairly well to antibiotics, especially if you catch it early on.

Disclaimer: I'm just a pre-med, too, but I did research on Lyme disease in college

 

[DOapplicant]

is/has she been in an endemic area?

i'm msII, not much better

 

[Stinger86]

Does she live or work in an area where she might come in contact with ticks, or just mosquitos?

Make sure you suggest Lyme Disease, West Nile, etc to the doctor since her last experience with medicine was less than impressive