erythema migrans

noun erythema mi·grans \ -ˈmī-grənz \

variants: or erythema chronicum migrans play \-ˌkrä-nə-kəm-\

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of erythema migrans

: a red spreading annular skin lesion that is an early symptom of Lyme disease and that develops at the site of the bite of a tick (such as the deer tick) infected with the causative spirochete

Recent Examples of erythema migrans from the Web

Early in the infection people may experience fever, headache, fatigue, swollen glands or a skin rash called erythema migrans, or a bull’s eye.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "Ask the expert: With Lyme disease on the rise, here's how you can protect yourself," 3 July 2018
The most notable early symptom is a (non-itchy) rash that resembles a bull's-eye (erythema migrans) and can expand to as large as 12 inches in diameter over the course of several days.

— emma sarran webster, Allure, "What You Should Know About the Rise of Insect-Spread Diseases," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'erythema migrans.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of erythema migrans

New Latin, literally, (chronic) migrating erythema

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1979

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

erythema migrans

noun

medical Definition of erythema migrans

: a spreading annular erythematous skin lesion that is an early symptom of Lyme disease and that develops at the site of the bite of a tick (as the deer tick) infected with the causative spirochete — called also erythema chronicum migrans