Erythema migrans

Erythema chronicum migrans

The erythema chronicum migrans refers to a reddening of the skin (erythema), which is called migrans (wandering red) and spreads from the origin. Characteristically, it appears as a bright red ring or double ring fading toward the center.

An erythema migrans is always a clear sign of a tick-borne borreliosis, with the center of the redness being the bite of the tick (tick bite) and a typical sign of inflammation. We are talking about a local infection.

It is not absolutely necessary that an erythema migrans arises, let alone be discovered. So even without noticing this skin redness, there may be an infection. The erythema does not develop directly after the bite, but has an incubation period of a few days to several weeks. The redness may last for days or even months.

The Lyme disease characterized by three stages can be accompanied by the erythema migrans throughout. So it can be z. B. in the second stage at several - independent of the bite site - points as a rash. This is the case when the pathogen has already spread through the bloodstream. But it is also possible that the erythema, as described above, is not discovered or heals early. This is not a sign that there is no Lyme disease or has healed. In addition to the erythema, it can lead to other Lyme disease-typical symptoms such as joint pain, flu-like symptoms, or the like, which indicate a Borrelia infection. However, the erythema itself shows no symptoms other than those described.

The erythema migrans can of course also occur in Lyme disease when it is transmitted by other insects than the tick. Here are lice, mosquitoes and brakes in question, but which are rarely the infection carriers. (Alexander Yzer, non-medical practitioner candidate)

Sources and further literature:
Tick ​​bites, diseases and treatment options, Elfie Fust, ISBN: 3-927099-66-X
Naturheilpraxis Heute, textbook and atlas, Elvira Bierbach, Elsevier Urban & Fischer, ISBN: 978-3-437-55243-4
ICD-1016351a2cc0b08c03