I have a tick bite that is 5 days old. it's mildly tender, mildly itchy and looks like a large mosquito bite. i'm not in a lyme disease region.

Tick borne illnesses: include many things besides just Lyme. However, most often, a local reaction to a tick bite is simply inflammation; an expanding, red area of tenderness can be cellulitis (a skin infection, often caused by staph bacteria). If it is worsening or you develop a fever, please seek medical attention for proper evaluation and treatment.