Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium (borrelia burgdorferi) that is carried by deer ticks. Once the tick has attached itself for more than 24 hours, the bacterium can enter your body. Medical attention and intervention are then needed to diagnose and treat the resulting Lyme disease.
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of Staphylococcus bacteria that has developed resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Though one-third of the population carries the bacteria in their nasal cavities and on the skin without symptoms, infection can occur when Staph enters the body through a wound or surgical site.
Both Lyme disease and MRSA infections can cause skin problems that can appear quite similar.
Small Bumps
Lyme disease can cause a rash that produces a minor red bump at the site of the tick bite. This, according to the Mayo Clinic, generally will be in the area behind the knee, beneath a belt line or in the groin.
MRSA infections may also begin with minor red bumps. These can look like spider bites, boils or pimples.
Rash
The small red area that first appears in Lyme disease will spread into a full rash in a few days. This can be a small area around the tick bite or encompass an area up to a foot in diameter. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may look like a bull's-eye target with redness in the center---a concentric ring of white, then a concentric ring of red. Within a week of onset, the redness will fade. In MRSA, however, the red spots rapidly become painful and deep abscessed. These must be drained by a surgeon.
Other Lyme Disease Symptoms
Apart from the skin problems, Lyme disease may cause a variety of other symptoms. The most well-known of these include flu symptoms such as headaches, fever, pain, fatigue and chills. Without treatment, severe pain in the joints can develop. This pain and swelling may occur weeks after the infection, affecting your knees or moving from one joint to another. The neurological system can be affected, as well. Left untreated, Lyme disease can cause meningitis, Bell's palsy (temporary facial paralysis), muscle motion impairment, and weakness or numbness in the arms and legs. Loss of memory, concentration difficulties, mood changes and changes in sleep patterns have also been reported.
Other MRSA Symptoms
While MRSA symptoms may be apparent on the skin, internal symptoms of the infection may be life-threatening. These can include lung infections, heart valve or blood stream infections, or infections in the joints or bones.
