I hope to God you're not a doctor, bcse everything you just said is WRONG.
People rarely, if ever, feel bites from deer ticks. That's why every expert stresses the importance of tick checks when people have been out in lyme-endemic areas. In many cases, people don't realize they've been bitten until they develop a rash.
The lyme bull's-eye is NOT always noticeable. Often, it's in a location where it goes unnoticed, like the scalp, behind the ear, or other unmentionable places that people fail to study on a regular basis. In the case of deer tick nymph bites, the rash may be too small to be noticed. Further, the rash doesn't always present as a classic bull's-eye. It's often mistaken for a simple spider bite or ringworm in people who mount a weak defense to the bacteria.
Good information.
I never felt a tick and actually think other vectors may have transmitted it. Contracted in spring 91, diagnosed fall 92 and disabled by it winter 99.
It’s more an issue of ticks on mice in my book and insecticide treated cotton balls that they take back to their nests is good treatment.
Sorry, chief. I've got hundreds of folks that have given me first hand evidence. A deer tick bite is painful. At the very least, it feels like a needle stick and digging around with the needle.
"That's why every expert stresses the importance of tick checks when people have been out in lyme-endemic areas."
Experts, yeah. Do a double blind and find me one that can sit still while a deer tick bites them.
"In many cases, people don't realize they've been bitten until they develop a rash."
I've never met one yet. Those that developed the rash, knew damn well a tick, or something was there before the rash came. Most often, they'll feel some noticeable pain in the eve, or in bed. Since the tick is <1/2 mm initially, most can't see the tick.
"The lyme bull's-eye is NOT always noticeable."
Assuming a normal immune system, it's noticeable and painful.
"In the case of deer tick nymph bites, the rash may be too small to be noticed."
No. The bite itself leaves a red welt that's noticeably painful, both when the tick's in, and after it's out.
"Further, the rash doesn't always present as a classic bull's-eye. It's often mistaken for a simple spider bite or ringworm in people who mount a weak defense to the bacteria."
It can't be mistaken for a spider bite by a knowledgeable person. A spider bite has 2 holes and most often hemorrhages. Only an idiot would mistake a tick, or lyme lesion for ringworm.