How young is too young? My kids don't show any signs yet, I just want to be ahead of it if they do have it? My kids are 2 & 4. ....or am I being paranoid.. Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
If I were there Daddy Derrick I would'nt have to ask this question!
There is no too soon. They can't tell you if they're not hearing or seeing you correctly. They would'nt know the difference.
Be the adult and figure that out and get them tested... yesterday!
The phlebs can make a nice little draw from the heals of kids....
Oh yeah, they might scream a lot, you'll probably have to hold them down.
If there is any reason to have them checked(like if you and or mom has lyme). Or you all went somewhere when you and or mom got bitten. Or whatever.
Ya know if you have had it awhile and passed it on to mom and then she had the kids she could have passed it on in utero....etc....
Course the alternative would be to wait around until they show "signs" or "symptoms" which
would mean that you waited TOO LONG! Now the bug is disseminated further threw their little
bodies and has imbedded itself in their little tissues and will be harder to get out whether they're symptomatic or not.
I sure would'nt want to gamble my childs life away!
Come on....be a hero Dad.
zman
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I had Lyme before I had any of my kids so this was a question I had to ask, too.
My LLMD said there was no point in testing if they were not having symptoms.
I ended up having one kid, the one who showed the most symptoms, tested. Her test was a very low positive (one Lyme specific band was IND).
We did a trial run of abx ... she had a small herx from it. Nothing was ever disabling for her.
After 8 months of treatment, she is finished. For the past three months she was completely symptom-free.
She was 14 when she got treated. She had headaches and learning disabilities. All are gone now. She would once in a while have knee or elbow pain.
My 19 year old daughter I was worried about, but she didn't want to go through testing. She was willing to try Cumanda and Samento. She jumped right into the full dosage of both and has had no reaction (good or bad) whatsoever. I was just worried about her because of her stress level in college. I was 19 when my Lyme became active for the first time.
I think my 17 year old son has a problem with it. He even seemed to herx on a recent round of Augmentin. However, my LLMD said it would be pointless to test him as my son wouldn't even comply with the 10 days of Augmentin. It's sad, but he has to learn everything the hard way.
The others, show no signs at all. So, out of six, one has been treated, one probably needs treatment.
I'd just watch for the signs.
Posted by catskillmamala (Member # 12536) on :
I have three kids. Son aged 8 dx in 05 w/ lyme, treated and resolved. Daughter age 5 dx in 05 w/ lyme treated, unresolved, dx w/ babeosis in 07 in treatment and resolving. Son undiagnosed, untreated and probably infected in utero.
The preeminent Dr. J (who treats my DD) told me not to pursue testing for the younger son. Testing can give false negatives and will likely be positive for a child who was exposed to lyme and kicked it. He said he WOULD NOT TREAT if there are no active symptoms.
The kids do occaisionally have "growing pains" or tummy aches, but Dr. J noted that the overwhelming symptom he sees in children with TBDs is FATIGUE.
If you don't know if you're seeing fatigue, my feeling is you'll know it when you see it. There was such a PROFOUND difference in the energy of my DD from her TBDs compared to other children in this family, and in the larger community.
She could not go upstairs to get a favorite toy, could not walk 1 block even to get to the bakery, absolutely HAD to go to bed at 7 pm, etc.
So even if you and mom have lyme, if children are not fatigued, I would wait and not sweat it. Of course, live life as healthy as possible, tick check, etc.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Thanks, Cats, that's helpful.
My 17 year old son is unreasonably fatigued .... worse than I am now.
My daughter was never fatigued from it, but the learning disabilities, headaches, and joint pain were pretty clear symptoms, and she's not a young child like Dr. J is talking about. She was treated by my LLMD at age 14.
Posted by KS (Member # 12549) on :
I had my kids tested on their 2nd and 5th birthday check-ups (couple of months ago). Neither were showing any symptoms but fortunately I have a great pediatrician, who had seen what I had gone through and agreed to run the Lyme ELISA and Western Blot on both of them (she drew the line though about sending it to Igenex and wanted to stick with their traditional lab).
The only thing that came back postive for both of them was IgG band 41. Not really worried about this result. Anyway, their crying for the blood draw was certainly worth my relief!
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I had mine tested at age 3 and 5.
That is after both my husband and I were diagnosed.
My daughter was highly symptomatic. My son was not.
They both tested positive for Lyme.
I don't think that being concerned and cautious is wrong.
In my case, I was right on. Unfortunately.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I forgot to add that there is a lanocaine cream that I apply to their arms,
About one hour before they get their blood drawn.
They don't feel a thing and neither do I.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by LaurenTurner (Member # 12320) on :
I had my son tested in September. He was 2 at the time. I was nervous like crazy that it would an awful experience for him, but it was something I had to do.
And wouldn't you know he didn't even cry!!! Seriously, he didn't seem to care at all when they were drawing his blood. I was amazed.
Anyway, he was negative. I'm so glad I got the test done for peace of mind. I wasn't sure if I had Lyme Disease when I was pregnant with him.
I didn't start having symptoms until the Summer of 2006... and not really bad until January 2007. But I still didn't want to take the chance that maybe I had been infected for longer and it was just dormant for awhile.
It definitely was $240 well spent to know that he doesn't have any postive bands.
Posted by Hides1 (Member # 6348) on :
Take it from a mom who has been struggling with this disease for 8 years herself there is certain age for testing. All three of my kids have it and the coinfections. I just wish everyday I had them tested sooner through Igenex. Igenex is hands down the best lab for seeing bands ont he WB. I waited and now they have to be on treatment longer. The sooner the better in my eyes...why wait if you a hunch they may have been exposed to it?
Posted by CatCCC (Member # 14262) on :
Derek,
I was infected when I was three years old. I am now almost 24 and was essentially deprived of a childhood by being plagued with complications from undiagnosed and untreated Lyme. There is NO such thing as too young.
However, my blood test was negative-- not because I was young, but because they tested too soon after the bite.
Remember, Lyme is a clinical diagnosis. I had EM (a bullseye rash) and a documented tick bite at the site, with joint pain, swelling, and fever, which most doctors would now consider diagnostic (even bad ones).
If you suspect your kids have Lyme for any reason, take them to an LLMD RIGHT NOW and don't take "the blood test is negative" for an answer if they are displaying clinical symptoms.
Good luck. Cat
Posted by dmbfan (Member # 11948) on :
Test! I believe I had lyme while pregnant (kids now 4 and 7). My son has strange things going on like me so I suspected he would come up +. Well my daughter came up positive by CDC standards and my son had positive bands like me (I don't meet CDC standards)
Did 30 days with my daughter and she is fine.
My son is on the 4th month of treatment and symptoms are decreasing.
when in doubt, test...
Posted by lucy96734 (Member # 8372) on :
My LLMD told me NOT to test the kids if they did not have obvious symptoms. The testing is not reliable and Lyme is a clinical dx that is based in part of the symptoms. If they do not display symptoms then you do not need to worry about it.
I've also read the same from Dr. J in a number of places.
Watch them closely.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Ah....but there is the rub.
My son who I said was mostly asymptomatic for Lyme had other issues.
Things that are associated with congenital Lyme like red pinnas, difficulty
Breathing at birth, failure to meet physical developmental milestones,
Hole in his heart at birth. I compiled a list.
Took it with me to see our LLMD.
He herxed on antibiotics.
Of course all of these things could have been just coincidence.
However, with me being pretty sure I was infected prior to or the month I
Got pregnant with him really made me look at his "symptoms" differently.
My daughter complained of stomach aches, nausea, joint pain, etc.
She had the symptoms I was familiar with as I had those myself.
I would suggest doing a search on Lyme disease symptoms in toddlers, small children,
And symptoms of congenital Lyme.
That may help you make your decision.
Mine was a no-brainer.
Good luck and God Bless.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by lucy96734 (Member # 8372) on :
Geneal- those sound like symptoms. It is so hard. When I talked to my LLMD about my kids- because I had episodes of what could have been Lyme and Babs as a kid and then again in college but was then fine until a month after giving birth to my second child- I worried.
I really wanted to avoid their ever having to feel anything like the pain I went through with these stupid diseases.
He asked me about them. Straight A students, happy, athletes, great behavior, no problems, no symptoms.
He told me not to test them.
I still worry and watch them so closely.
It is so hard we all want the best for our kids. I hope yours are doing well with treatment :-)
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