The nurse is performing a physical examination on a 9-year-old boy who has experienced a tick bite on his lower leg and is suspected of having Lyme disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect to find?

A. Neurological symptoms such as confusion may occur in later stages of Lyme disease if the infection affects the central nervous system, but they are not expected in the early localized stage following a tick bite. B. Excessive salivation is not associated with Lyme disease. This symptom is more characteristic of other conditions affecting the cranial nerves or oral cavity, such as rabies. C. The hallmark early manifestation of Lyme disease is erythema migrans, a red, expanding, ring-shaped rash that often develops at the site of the tick bite within 3–30 days. It may appear on the lower extremities and sometimes has a central clearing, giving it a “bull’s-eye” appearance. D. Cervical lymphadenopathy is not a common early sign of Lyme disease. Swelling may occur near the bite site, but generalized neck swelling is not typical.