LymeNet Flash: Head of tick stuck in overnight -- Anxious Momma

This is topic Head of tick stuck in overnight -- Anxious Momma in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by ElizabethP (Member # 6819) on :

The three year old daughter of a friend of mine had a tick on her leg - probably for just 2-3 hours before her mom removed it. BUT, when she removed the tick, the head was still stuck in her daughter's leg.

The mom dug out the head THE NEXT MORNING and has just sent the tick to IGenex to be tested for LYME only (not the coinfections).

IGenex results are expected next week.

Any advice?
If the Lyme test is positive, what would you do?

If it's negative, what would you do?

In the meantime what would you do?

My friend is still out on the island on vacation in tick country. I'll relay your feedback.

Thanks so much.

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

When a tick is stressed as it was being pulled out they regurgitate into the bloodstreem. Not a good thing.

If it were MY child I would have her on ABX right now. I know that may seem radical but my kids and myself have all had lyme 2 times now and are currently all 3 of us battling it.

she is lucky she has the opportuity to do something about it now. I never saw the one that got my daughter.

good luck
pattiecake

Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :

Do you mean Long Island? Tick central?

If it were my child I'd test the tick for all TBDs and start abx now. But that's just my opinion.

Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :

I have had a 7 year battle with Lyme Disease. So when I found a tick on my 14 year daughter last week, I called my LLMD right away. He responded by putting her on 2 different antibiotics, Biaxin and Amoxicillin.

I also contacted Dr. Jones and his office responded by telling me that Dr. Jones always recommends 30 days of Amoxicillin for any tick bite.

So, obviously, these 2 LLMDs see the worst case senarios day to day, and they think it is important to treat no matter what.

I would not wait to see the test results. Treat now, for no less than 30 days.

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

I would definitely treat NOW! I had a recent tick bite and went on abx right away. I had the tick sent off to Igenex and they said it was negative.

WEll, I got sick anyway and have had numerous problems ever since then. In the future I won't waste my money on sending in the tick.

Why? Because there are hundreds of strains of Lyme and then there is all that "infectious soup" the ticks can transmit.

All kinds of bacteria are carried by those b******s! So, take the abx and take plenty of it.

------------------
Do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express!
oops!
Lymetutu

[This message has been edited by Lymetoo (edited 12 July 2005).]

Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :

I agree with the advice you've gotten, but want to add that the dose per day is also important.

Go to www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html
Print a copy of "Diag Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." - 32 pages of excellent info written by one of the best Lyme Literate Med Drs (LLMDs).

page 16: Antibiotic Choices
Amoxicillin: Children - 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses

My pharmacist did the math & it means:
Child weighing 35 lbs needs about 800mg/day
Child weighing 70 lbs needs about 1600mg/day

This is more than the typical dose given.

When higher doses of antibiotics (abx) are given, acidophilus (from Health Food Store) needs to be taken to replace the good bacteria.

Abx kill the good bacteria along with the bad bacteria, so the good needs to be replenished often.
If not, a systemic yeast infection, Candida, can develop. Easier to prevent than to have extra problems.

Be sure to have at least 2 hours between abx & acidoph - before & after - or it won't be able to work.

In "Diag Hints....Guidelines.." -
Read acidophilus info on pages 24 & 29.

If the child's pediatrician is reluctant to give the higher dose of Amoxicillin, the Mom could ask the dr to call Dr Jones's office to consult about dosage.

Dr Jones is a Lyme Pediatrician who has treated over 7,000 children with Lyme.
He's wonderful!!!
He's given permission for his name to be given here.

Dr Charles Ray Jones
New Haven, CT
Phone: 203 - 772 - 1123

They are so busy that sometimes it's difficult getting through by phone.
Some people have found Fax is easier.
Fax: 203 - 772 - 1123

For more info about Dr Jones, read "Children of LD" that he wrote: www.wildernetwork.org/LDpediatricfund.html

Keep in touch & let us know what happens.