rmsf :: Article Creator What Does A Tick Bite Look Like? What do tick bites look like and what other symptoms may develop? Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), for example, cause a distinct circular rash and flu-like symptoms. However, you are unlikely to notice a tick bite unless you develop an infection or allergic reaction, which can take several days to weeks to appear. There's a good chance you will not even know a tick has bitten you unless you find one still attached to your skin. That's because initially, tick bites on humans are nearly invisible, unlike mosquito bites, which often cause a reaction right away. Ticks need to stay attached for quite some time to cause illness and for a rash to develop. Anakopa / Getty Images There are over 800 types of ticks, which are parasites that range in color and size. Ticks can be reddish-brown or dark brown and so small that you cannot s...