My husband was bitten by a deer tick (attached) but it was only on him for an hour or two. His doctor said that deer ticks transmit lyme through their poop and if they haven't been on you long enough to bury themselves under your skin, they can't transmit the disease. Anyone know anything about this? Miles
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
Through poop? First I have ever heard of that.
Did he get a rash? How does he feel?
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
That doctor is smoking something.
The diseases are transmitted through the tick's saliva. You can get the disease at any time throughout the bite, especially if the tick is removed improperly.
Please don't trust anything that doctor tells you about Lyme disease.
Posted by t9im (Member # 25489) on :
Hi Miles:
There is a controversy on duration of tick attachment, diagnosis and then treatment.
Note if the tick has erlichia it can transmit it in 15 minutes.
The LB mice study has it as a 7% chance when on for 24 hours, 35% chance when on for 48 hrs (increasing to 100% with full feeding 72 hrs).
Dr. J tells a couple of stories, one where the nymph tick was attached for 1 hour. (the pediatrician refused to treat even when a rash appeared under the premise the tick wasn't on long enough).
A spirochete study shows the flagella on the LB does not become active in the tick until the tick has been feeding for 48 hours and the LB moves to the base of the gut.
In our experience we know the tick was not on our daughter for more than 24 hours (although we don't rule out this was a re infection) and she didn't have a rash.
While I've read babs is another 48 hr attachment I have not been able to find support for this. (so its probably more fud by the IDSA).
Speaking of the IDSA if you actually read their references for tick attachment in the 2006 guidelines regarding LB only 1 of the 4 support their 36 hour position. The other 3 indicate from 7 to 26% in under 24 hours.
Posted by t9im (Member # 25489) on :
Also Dr. S's tick research work from a 2010 tick drag in Fairfield County indicated 82% of the ticks had something (only 30+% lyme).
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Try your best to get to a doctor who will prescribe him antibiotics. The information you were given is incorrect. Google and read about lyme disease and the controversy regarding this disease. You will then know why the doctor you saw was so misinformed. Many are, unfortunately.
It can develop into a very serious debilitating condition and the need for early, effective treatment is paramount.
Contact the support group for the state you live in for additional advice:
Ah yes, poop! My favorite topic to discuss while having breakfast. Please pass the grits.
Actually, I don't know if Lyme can be transmitted by poop, never heard about that, but...
It has been reported that the excretions from ticks can be absorbed through the skin (without a bite- just by handling or traveling along on the skin)...
And if the tick is infected, that process can pass along Rickettsia (RMSF).
That is one of the reasons why it is recommended to not touch ticks, and to use tweezers instead. And it is recommended to remove all ticks properly without twisting, squeezing, etc..
My opinion below....
Saying "a tick can not pass Lyme disease unless it has been on a person X number of hours" is kind of like saying "no two snow flakes are alike".
Neither of these statements can be proven.
The big difference is one statement can end up to be very harmful to many people if left to stand as is.
Ok, so much for the Monday morning poop discussion, for me anyhow.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
One more thang...
In endemic areas if you have a problem getting treated (you shouldn't if the doctor knows anything), you might want to share this site with your doctor (in a nice fashion).
Willing to take the chance?
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
How exactly do we know how long a tick has been attached? I mean do they punch a flipping timecard?
I can't believe I am saying this, but why not just lie? "Oh yes Dr. the tick had to have been attached for at least 48 hours." Let me check his tume card, oh no I'm sorry, it was actually 46.3 hours...
Sorry, bad day, headache that won't quit, blah, blah, balh...
Posted by miles2go (Member # 20119) on :
Thanks everyone. It was about a month and a half ago that he was bitten and my problem is that my husband believed the doctor and not me and I have Lyme. He has had no bulls' eye rash and seems to be OK but I couldn't believe what the doctor said. I had always heard that it was transmitted from saliva and wondered if it's from a new study or something.
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
quote:Originally posted by mom2kids: How exactly do we know how long a tick has been attached? I mean do they punch a flipping timecard?
After detaching him from your body, lay him face down on the table, look him in the eye, and say: "Alright, when did you bite me, *****?"
Alternate answer: Put him in a glass bottle, tape it to your sternum, and have someone energy test you for how many hours he was detached?? Maybe?? Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
wrong wrong wrong. Fire the doc and get a new one. you don't know yet if your husbvand is infected, but do you really want to find out?
You should make some sort of crazy ultimatum to get him to the doc. Him being angry with you is nothing compared to the suffering he will have to deal with. Do not take no for an answer. The only thing worse than suffering like this is watching someone you love suffer like this....
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
James, you crack me up. Of course, some people would say I was already cracked.
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