Deer ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Therefore, many people with Lyme disease never even saw a tick. These people are more likely to develop symptoms because the tick remained on their body longer.

The symptoms of Lyme disease include:

• A flat or slightly raised red lesion at the site of the tick bite (can be larger than 1 to 3 inches in diameter, often with a clear area in the center)
• Fever
• Headache
• Lethargy
• Muscle pains
• Stiff neck
• Joint inflammation in the knees and other large joints

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Itching, overall
• unusual or strange behavior

• Physical examination in advanced Lyme disease may show evidence of joint, heart, or brain abnormalities
• Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by immunofluorescence (IFA) or ELISA. ELISA tests are confirmed with a Western blot test.