This is topic HELP FOR 5 YEAR OLD SON - PLEASE! in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by imheath (Member # 6256) on :
 
We pulled a tick off my 5 year old son's head last night and this am I called my own LLMD and was told they don't treat children under 9 call the pediatrician.... called pediatrician and they said they don't treat unless there are symptoms so wait 2 weeks - I asked if they could test the tick & they said even if it came back positive for lyme they wouldn't necessarily treat him with ABX - call me crazy but I find that totally unacceptable! I don't want him to suffer the way that I have for 1 1/2 years now so if anyone knows of any pediatric llmd's in the NJ area I would really appreciate it! THANKS!
 
Posted by christelleny (Member # 6719) on :
 
Having the tick tested first seems like a good idea. If you still have the tick, put it in a ziploc bag with a wet cotton ball and send it to Igenex for testing. For more info, call 1-800-832-3200.

There're few pediatrician LLMDs around. Dr. Jones in CT is one of them.
 


Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :
 
Hi there..

Doctor Jones in CT 203-772-1123

I suggest giving him a call and inquiring about treatment (dose and length of time) for a known tick attatchnment.

Explain everything including your LLMD and the situation with LL ped care.

I bet his office, or his office with your LL..
could figure this out and help you .

Mo
 


Posted by DJP (Member # 5893) on :
 
My situation was a little a little different, but knowing what I know now, if either of my children got bit by a tick I would insist on prophylatic antibiotics. I woudn't wait for any test results.

Last summer, my daughter (2 1/2)at the time, had a bullseye rash on her knee and was complaining that her knee hurt. I never saw the tick.

The pediatrician said to wait and see if she developed any symptoms. A week later she was really sick and had a fever, headache, stomachache, knee pain and other symtpoms.

Get in touch with Dr. J and see what they recommend. I think I read somewhere (don't quote me) that he recommends 30 days for an attachment.

Maybe you can convince your ped or llmd to work with him if necessary.

Good luck.

 


Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
I would NOT wait! The tick can be tested, but since ticks carry so many diseases and strains of Lyme, there's no way to know what was transmitted thru the bite.

Play it safe!

------------------
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
 


Posted by imheath (Member # 6256) on :
 
ME AGAIN!!! thanks everyone... I just came back from our local health office and the dr. there put the tick under a microscope & advised that it was definitely a deer tick in the nymph stage and it has been on long enough to have a blood meal and is engorged.... he also advised to get a dr. to treat with abx but how the heck do I do that. This is so darn frustating! Having it myself I don't want him to suffer at all... very difficult.
 
Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
 
Hee's a copy of a post I put on another thread on this board yesterday:

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.

Hope that tells you wnat you need to know.

FYI, Dr. Jones' office recommended 500 mg Amoxicillin twice a day minimum of 30 days.

If your ped bucks treating this, have her/him call Dr. Jones. Their office is always willing to talk to anyone who wants info on tick-borne diseases and preventative treatment. The number is: 203-772-1123
Fax is 203-772-0682
 


Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :
 
Well, you're making progress.
You know what needs to be done.
Verified by the dr at your local health office.

As ConnieMc said, Dr Jones recommends 30 days Amoxicillin.
It's very important that the dose is strong enough. Too little, & the disease will still be there; will flare up at some time in the future when it's more difficult to deal with.

Finding a LLMD for your son -
1. Go to Seeking a Dr here on LymeNet.
Put your location in the title & someone should see it & e-mail info.
We don't give dr's names here without their permission.

2. On the left, click "Support Groups"
NJ has a long list. They should have some helpful info about Lyme Pediatricians in your area.

3. On the left, click "Lyme Disease Association" then check "Doctor Referrals"

4. To get immediate treatment, some people have been successful in going to a walk-in facility, like Doctor's Care, etc.
This could provide treatment for your son while you're waiting for an appt with a LLMD.

Recommend you take a copy of Dr B's
"Diagnostic Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." with you to be sure the dose is adequate. www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html

32 pages of excellent info written by one of the best LLMDs.

Dose of Amoxicillin is based on child's weight. See recommended dose in "Diag Hints...."

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

My pharmacist did the math:
child weighing 35 lbs needs about 800 mg/day
child weighing 70 lbs needs 1,600 mg/day

Antibiotics (abx) kill the good bacteria in the system along with the bad bacteria.
The good has to be replenished with enough acidophilus to prevent a systemic yeast infection (candida).
With higher doses of antibiotics for a longer time, this is very important.

In "Diag Hints....Guidelines..", read about acidophilus on pages 24 & 29 (Managing Yeast...)
Always be sure to have at least 2 hrs between abx & acidoph - before & after - or it won't be able to help.
Be sure to give an adequate amt per day.

Keep in touch & let us know when you find a LLMD.

[This message has been edited by cbb (edited 14 July 2005).]
 


Posted by imheath (Member # 6256) on :
 
THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE!!! I just spoke with Dr. Jones office (wonderful people!) They are going to call in a prescription for 30 days of amox - and send an order to have the tick tested. What a relief! Thank god for this board and your experiences or I would have never found a dr. to help as all of our physicians would do nothing.
 
Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :
 
Wonderful!

I'd bet they told you this, but do be sure to keep Doc B's symptoms list handy and watch him during this course of abx (and after)..

and signs of symptoms, rash, herx, ect..you should give a yell back..it MAY require an alteration of the treatment plan to take care of.

You never know if this wasn't the first exposure, or if co-infections will rear their heads, ect..

Tho odds are if it was the first exposure, profilactic (I never know how to spell that ) treatment would take care of any possible sprouting infection..
this advise is just to keep an eye.

Also..did they mention acidophilus? Right dose for age and weight, taken two hours away from abx..and I suggest extra fluids and lay low on 'bad' sugar.

All the best..

Mo
 


Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
 
Dr. Jones is THE best!

And just a reminder..

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wait for a tick test to come back before starting treatment.

I don't even like to tell folks to get the ticks tested because of this problem. The test CAN miss the infection (or many others ones it could have).. ands/or the tick MAY have had a buddy who was attached and was not seen.

And there has been.. for YEARS... too many reports of ... "you have to have a DEER tick" on you for "24-48 hours" ...or you can't have Lyme."

HOG WASH!

ALL of that information is GARBAGE! And we now know it. Unfortunately thousands and thousands of people were denied treatment due to those IDIOT statements and many are now suffering from those STUPID "rules".

And..

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER "wait and see" if symptoms develop before treating.

That's kinda like telling a person to wait and see if you drown BEFORE putting on a life jacket!

IDIOTS!

PLEASE educate that ducks office so other children aren't left to suffer!

Thanks!

------------------
If you get the choice to sit it out or dance...



 


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