Just a note to let you all know that my daughter awoke yesterday with what looked like
Little bug bites on her feet, legs and back.
The itching drove her crazy.
Gave her some benadryl and put some calamine lotion on it.
This am she was covered. Behind her ears, neck, stomach, etc.
Some red marks are by themselves and some look like huge welts.
Took her immediately to our pediatrician.
We hadn't seen her since she refused to acknowledge Lyme in my daughter.
Thank goodness my daughter had gotten a Rx for zithromax last week there for an ear infection.
This is a medicine she has been taking since Spring of last year.
The doctor's conclusion was an allergic reaction to zithromax.
Yikes!
It looks horrible. Itches terribly.
I do realize that you can develop an allergic reaction to medicines at any time.
This was a real eye opener for me.
She is off meds now and only taking antihistamines.
Called LLMD's office to update them and see what course we will take next week.
Just a heads up for those of you treating children for Lyme.
Thank goodness it didn't affect her airway.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm so glad she's OK. I hope it won't impede her progress in dealing with the Lyme.
HUGS to both of you! I hope the itching stops SOON!! Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Bumping up for other parents, and to send healing wishes to your little one, Geneal. I hope her reaction is receding quickly. I'm so sorry she has to endure this. Thank heavens she has a caring, knowledgeable and proactive mom!
Best to you and your family, Viva
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Thanks Viva.
There has been no improvement with new hives coming out steadily.
She looks and feels horrible.
My concern is now she is off meds and scratching constantly, that she will get a different infection.
If it is not one thing it is the other.
She is on Rx antihistimine only, but I really wonder if it was the zith or something else.
She had the horrible upper respiratory crud and was taking cough medicine and tylenol.
I am really concerned about where this internal reaction stems from.
It seems her immune system is seriously out of wack.
I hate to watch my children suffer so.
I am off to get some milk of magnesium which is reported to give the skin some relief.
Poor baby.
Geneal
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
My LLMD told me of this possibility-sort of a delayed allergic reaction.
It happened to me with Cipro-which was most unfortunate because Cipro was very effective for me.
When my youngest was much younger-in a high chair ,I called Dr.'s office to describe huge round welts on her-like hives. They told me what to do for the itching and we hung up.
Then two minutes later the nurse called back to ask if my daughter was on any antibiotics-which she was for an ear infection.
I am so glad the nurse made the connection.
Just wanted to add Geneal's heads-up is relevent for kids and adults!
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Hi Geneal,
I had the bug-bite like things all over for awhile as well as hives before being dx and before using any abx. Then, my primary care doc suspected mycoplasma and thought that was the cause.
Zithromax treats myco. Could your daughter be having a myco herx rather than an allergic reaction? Has she been tested for that? Claritin helped w/my bumps. Do her bumps look like flea bites by any chance?
I hope she is better soon. My heart goes out to you. I hate to hear of children suffering like this. It's not fair! Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :
did the doc who diagnosed allergic reaction to zithromax do so thinking she had just started the drug?
if the hives continue to get worse, i would suggest considering other causes of the reaction. my son had horrible hives spontaneously, and we never did figure out what the exact cause was. possible mold in his case. getting an eval from an allergist can be long and tedious, but sometimes tells you what the cause is/was.
i think you can at least test whether it is the zith or not(?)
i would work out any further questions out carefully with your llmd, non-Lyme literate peds can get weird over long term antibiotic use if they don't understand or practice it, and you don't want to get into that debate when a child is involved in treatment.
good luck, mo
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
I had a whole body rash last week and it looked like an allergic reaction at first, but my neuropathic pain *went away* as the rash was popping up. My LLMD thinks it's a herx, so I wouldn't assume allergy immediately.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Maybe it's from the cough medicine?
Posted by ICEiam (Member # 7519) on :
My Granddaughter has been on Zithromax a couple of times. It seems after she is on it 2 to 3 months she develops this bumpy, itchy rash too.
When this happened the first time Dr. J switched her to Amoxicillin. Since he and Dr. H in Ca. are both her LLMD's this time Dr. H switched her to Amoxicillin.
I think it is her body's way of telling us it has had enough of this drug and it's time to switch. Dr. J and Dr. H say there are no co infections.
But who really knows for sure about any of this dang tick stuff? I sure find lots of conflicting reports about it.
We just do the best we can and pray lots and hope this nightmare ends someday in the near future.
We use ummm, monostadt or an rx for itching. The over the counter hydrocortizone lotion works sometimes too, there isn't enough steroids in it to hurt.
Good luck, HUGS,
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Geneal, oh my goodness. I can't image how confused and scared you are for your little girl.
All we can go by is what the doctor tells us for the little ones. As adults we know even when we are ill with lyme & company for so long, how to relay that information to a friend or a doctor.
I get so upset when I read stories on children having to cope with this stuff. I just can't image how frustrating it must be for a young one or even the many teens or 20 something yrs old that have posted on here.
I hope she gets better soon. Then you won't have to worry so much.
Pam
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Good news is our LLMD is also an allergist.
It could be the cough medicine.
It was over the counter stuff, but who knows.
The last time she had zith was this past Tuesday.
She's been throwing up with this flu bug and so anything "yucky" that makes her gag, we avoided.
The pediatrician believes the zith can stay in your system for 10 days.
I am sure they aren't bug bites, although that was my initial thought.
Today they are coming up on her scalp.
I haven't changed any soaps, detergents or shampoos.
We are to talk to the LLMD on Monday.
She is excited as she gets to stay home if she is still covered, which is likely.
This extra day following Easter vacation makes her rash worth while to herself.
My other concern is she is scratching some places till she is bleeding.
We have special tissue eating bacteria that grows down here in the south.
Keeping triple antibiotic on it.
I don't think this is a herx, but I have considered a "toxic" build up of zithromax.
Thank you all for your kind words of support.
I can't tell you all how much I appreciate it.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
geneal, your poor daughter and ALL that itching! just my itching my elbow/arm drives me up a wall; can't imagine the WHOLE body itching!
so glad you got right on it and into the dr!
you just don't get a break.
changing subject to good one; how's your NEW HOME coming? last they poured cement foundation.
best wishes the itch goes away FAST, and you all can get back to your "normal" anything but that at your home! Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
Geneal-
i'm so sorry to hear what's going on with your daughter.
I clipped what is below for home remedies to try for itching.
I've tried the oatmeal baths for my son's itching before- and they worked fairly well(the relief lasted mostly for the time he was in the tub),though his itching was not as severe as your daughter's.
And i've tried baking soda on my own poison ivy rashes- you have to keep putting it on, but it definitely helps.
Keep us tuned (and take care of you too). ---------------------------------------------- 10 Home Remedies for Itching by the Editors of the Consumer Guide
10 Home Remedy Treatments for Itching
Itching, medically known as pruritus, is caused by stimuli bugging some part of our skin. There are a lot of places to bother on the body, too. The average adult has 20 square feet (2 square meters) of skin, all open to the world of irritants. When something bothers our skin, an itch is a built-in defense mechanism that alerts the body that someone is knocking.
We respond to an itch with a scratch, as most people want to remove the problem. But the scratching can also set you up for the "itch-scratch" cycle, where one leads to the other endlessly.
An itch can range from a mild nuisance to a disrupting, damaging, and sleep-depriving fiasco. Itches happen for many reasons, including allergic reactions; sunburns; insect bites; poison ivy; reactions to chemicals, soaps, and detergents; medication; dry weather; skin infections; and even aging. More serious itches, such as those caused by psoriasis or other diseases, are not covered here.
Scratching isn't the only solution to an itch. The kitchen cupboards hold a few more. ---- Home Remedies from the Cupboard
Baking soda. Baking soda battles itches of all kinds. For widespread or hard-to-reach itches, soak in a baking soda bath. Add 1 cup baking soda to a tub of warm water. Soak for 30 to 60 minutes and air dry. Localized itches can be treated with a baking soda paste. Mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Apply to the itch, but do not use if the skin is broken.
Oatmeal. Add 1 to 2 cups finely ground oatmeal to a warm bath (not hot or you might have breakfast for the next month in your tub) to ease your itches.
Home Remedies from the Refrigerator
Lemon. Many American folk remedy recipes call for using a lemon to treat itchy skin -- and rightly so. The aromatic substances in a lemon contain anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce itching. If nothing else, you'll smell good. Squeeze undiluted lemon juice on itchy skin and allow to dry.
Home Remedies from the Spice Rack
Cloves and Juniper Berries. The American Indians of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Cherokee tribes knew how to stop an itch in its tracks. They used what nature provided, namely juniper berries. (No need to run out in the wilderness to gather berries. They are available in some grocery stores.)
These berries contain anti-inflammatory, volatile substances. When combined with cloves, which contain eugenol to numb nerve endings, the result is no more itch. To make a salve of both spices, melt 3 ounces of unsalted butter in a saucepan. In a separate pan, melt a lump of beeswax -- about the amount of 2 tablespoons. When the beeswax has melted, combine with butter and stir well. Add 5 tablespoons ground juniper berries and 3 teaspoons ground cloves to the mixture and stir. Allow to cool and apply to itchy skin. Note: It is best to grind the spices at home because the volatile substances are preserved better in whole berries and cloves.
Basil. Splash your skin with refreshing basil tea. Like cloves, basil contains high amounts of eugenol, a topical anesthetic. Place 1/2 ounce dried basil leaves in a 1-pint jar of boiling water. Keep it covered to prevent the escape of the aromatic eugenol from the tea. Allow to cool. Dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply to itchy skin as often as necessary.
Mint. If you're saving that basil for spaghetti sauce, try a mint tea rinse instead. Chinese folk medicine values mint as a treatment for itchy skin and hives. Mint contains significant amounts of menthol, which has anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically.
In general, mint also contains high amounts of the anti-inflammatory rosmarinic acid, which is readily absorbed into the skin. To make a mint tea rinse, place 1 ounce dried mint leaves in 1 pint boiling water. Cover and allow to cool. Strain, dip a clean cloth in the tea, and apply to the itchy area when necessary.
Thyme. If you're saving that mint for a glass of lemonade, there is one more spice on the rack that makes a good anti-itch rinse: thyme. This fragrant herb contains large amounts of the volatile constituent thymol, which has anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties.
In other words, it numbs that darn itch while reducing inflammation caused by all your scratching. To make a thyme rinse, place 1/2 ounce dried thyme leaves in a 1-pint jar of boiling water. Cover and allow to cool. Strain and dip a clean cloth into the tea, then apply to affected areas. Note: In Chinese folk medicine, dandelion root, easily plucked from most yards, is added to this rinse. If in season, place 1 ounce dried dandelion root and 1/2 ounce dried thyme leaves into 1 quart boiling water and proceed as directed.
Home Remedies from the Windowsill
Aloe vera. Aloe vera is a must for burns, but how about itches? The same constituents that reduce blistering and inflammation in burns also work to reduce itching. Snap off a leaf, slice it down the middle, and rub the gel only on the itch.
More Do's and Don'ts
* Try not to scratch! * Wear gloves, if need be, to keep yourself from opening your skin by scratching with your nails.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Linnea Lundgren has more than 12 years experience researching, writing, and editing for newspapers and magazines. She is the author of four books, including Living Well With Allergies.
Michele Price Mann is a freelance writer who has written for such publications as Weight Watchers and Southern Living magazines. Formerly assistant health and fitness editor at Cooking Light magazine, her professional passion is learning and writing about health. ABOUT THE CONSULTANT:
David J. Hufford, Ph.D., is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at PennsylvaniaState University's College of Medicine. He also is a professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
dilly,
thanks for the 10 home remedies; i added it to my newbie package! Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
Im so sorry for your daughter. I had hives when i was five years old, and I still remember that itch, and the baths.
As for zithromax it can take a long time for it to leave the body due to the long half life. My PCP said about 10-12 days.
when i had my allergic reaction to it, it took about 10 days before I felt better. I didnt get hives from it. i had numb tongue and throat.
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