Ticks can pass along the Lyme bacteria in as few as 4 hours (documented). In a child it usually takes less time as their skin is tender and thin compared to an adults.
If this happened in PA.. and it were MY kid...
I would go to doctor after doctor till I got the right meds to treat.
PA has the highest rate of Lyme disease again this year.
Good luck!
Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :
Since you're in a highly endemic state, I would definitely treat. I agree with Lymetoo. If it were my child, I'd want 6-8 wks because I've seen what delayed treatment can do.
My grandson's symptoms didn't start until a couple years after he got Lyme. Took a couple more years to get a diagnosis. It's been a struggle, but he's much better now.
If symptoms don't appear for some time, it's not likely they would be associated with the tick bite - resulting in wrong diagnosis.
page 32: Rationale for Treating Tick Bites Note # 1, 2, and 3. Last paragraph is especially important. Ends with "....risk-benefit ratio favors tick bite prophylaxis."
page 17: Antibiotics Amoxicillin - Children: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses That means a 35 lb child needs 800mg total per day
page 19: Treatment Tick Bites (no signs or symptoms) Young Children: oral therapy for 28 days
Early Localized (bull's eye rash) Children: oral therapy for 6+ weeks
With symptoms - longer treatment is needed.
With stronger & longer doses of antibiotics, good bacteria in the digestive tract is killed along with the bad bacteria in the body. Good needs to be replenished by taking top quality Acidophilus from the Health Food Store.
Read about Probiotics on page 25. My daughter bought powder form of Acidophilus and sprinkled it on applesauce when her son was young. Also, eliminate as much sugar as possible and give lots of liquids.
The earlier the treatment, the better the results. Maybe your co-worker would like to join us here on LymeNet.
Posted by KENNEDY (Member # 9628) on :
Thanks for your speedy reply.
It didn't surprise me that it was you two to chime in first. Although I don't post, I check out lymenet almost every night and you two especially are always there to help as well as others and I do appreciate your dedication.
I wanted to get your advice, to print out to take in to work tomorrow. Everybody thinks I'm a nut.
I can't help it it seems to me that everybody has lyme.
The Ticks are so bad here in South central PA this year. We had a very mild winter. A school teacher friend of mine said ticks are showing up in her classroom.
Congratulations tincup on being a GRANDMA. I have 5, and they're the reason I read and try to retain all the information I can about Lyme.
I'm not good at retaining so I depend on all of you on lymenet to know what to do.
Again thank-You.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
YOu're welcome .. and I'm grateful to "cbb" for adding excellent concrete info .. as usual!!
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