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["Marie McHarry" <mmcharry AT dtnspeed.net>]

This is a knowledgeable group, so I'll ask you. I have a nickel-sized red,
raised rash on the inside of my right arm. It's nearly a perfect circle with
a red spot (where I think I was bitten about a week ago) right in the
center. It's not nearly as big as the bull's eye rashes that most Lyme
disease victims get, but - unlike ringworm - it was most likely caused by an
insect bite (the bite marks are still visible in the center).

The nurse practitioner who looked at it this morning was impressed by its
textbook-like appearance, but guessed - as I did - that it was likely either
a Lyme tick bite (unlikely) or ringworm (also not likely because of the bite
marks). She gave me an antibiotic  (to be swallowed for the next 14 days)
and an antifungal cream with cortisone for the itching in the hopes that one
of those would be the right treatment.

I have a picture of the rash that I can send to anyone who cares to offer
their own diagnosis.

Marie 

PS: The bite, or whatever, occurred here in central Illinois, most likely in
my rather desiccated front yard rather than in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan where I spent the last few days.