About 80 percent of people with Lyme disease from a tick bite develop a target lesion, or bull's-eye rash. It's not always so visually well-defined.

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Where I come from, it’s tick season. I suspect it is in your area too. On many a tree leaf or tall grass, the tiny blood-suckers lie in wait—ready to pounce on any warm-blooded creature that gets within distance—eager to share their multiple array of germs.

The CDC lists twelve tick-borne diseases in the U.S. alone. Early recognition and treatment is vital to prevent permanent disability, even death. But these diseases can be hard to diagnose. Symptoms can be very general—say, fever and muscle aches—and their onset can be delayed for days or weeks. Tick-borne diseases can be hard for a doctor to pen down.

So what if no doctor is available? Here are a few steps you can take to decrease your chance of a devastating outcome.

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