so we sent the tick that bit my 5 year old to Igenex and it was positive for lyme. Negative for babesia, bartonella, and erichlia.
He is finishing up 4 weeks of ceftin. I have a 3 week script of omnicef that I never filled (because it was replaced with ceftin) and I have a bottle of about a week's worth of azithromycin (not sure if it is still good though, since it was filled May 6th).
How long should a child stay on abx. for a tick bite that was infected with lyme? I just want to make sure we do the right thing now, so no time waiting for pediatric LLMD appointments, which would be months away!
Is omnicef okay for early lyme? He got the 4 weeks of ceftin in him, so hoping maybe if i fill the omnicef it would take the place. I know I wouldn't be able to get more abx. from pediatrician, since it was hard getting the first script.
thanks, maureen
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
Up.
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
What I've heard the most is 3 months past the point at which the symptoms disappear. Check the burrascano guidelines, maybe?
Posted by sunnydays (Member # 25310) on :
I think I just read that Burrascano says for early Lyme that you catch right away, it is 4-6 weeks at 400 mg Doxy for an adult.
So I would think that perhaps if you have your child on the correct dose (an aggressive dose), and treated right away, 4-6 weeks would be enough?
But if he still has symptoms, you'd want to keep treating.
Is he taking Ceftin in liquid form or pills? Maybe you will hear from someone who has extras.
If you can get a hold of Ceftin tablets...and they are like Amoxicillin ones....you can just drop them in the bottom of a glass of water, or milk if it doesn't interact, and after about 30 min, they will be dissolved into a powder and you just stir.
Maybe changing things up and doing Omnicef would be good though, I don't know. I am just speculating.
(this is Hoosiers51 by the way)
Posted by sunnydays (Member # 25310) on :
This is where I got the 4-6 weeks...someone reported it from a presentation that Dr. Burrascano was at:
"Here are the patchy notes I took from Dr. Burrascano (he is so soft spoken that my hubby and I missed a lot, I guess we aren't the only ones):
Early Lyme needs abx treatment 4-6 wks at full dose (doxy 400mg). Late disseminated Lyme is 6 mos. - 1 yr. before treatment. Chronic Lyme Disease - over 1 yr. Lyme has a 4 wk. cycle (Babs has a 6 day cycle), if you keep a journal you should be able to see this. "
thank you everyone- no symptoms, so I am hoping that the 7 weeks will be okay.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
If he has no Lyme symptoms or Lyme-type rash, I would think the 4 weeks of Ceftin at ILADS-recommended levels (adjusted for his weight) should be fine. But giving him a 2 or 3 day break (no harm & actually some good, GI-tractwise ) & following with the prescribed level of Omnicef for a couple weeks should do no harm (as long as he's given probiotics concurrently thru ALL of this- taken daily, atleast 2 hrs after an abx dose). The 2nd antibiotic would be extra insurance that any localized 'ketes that "survived" the Ceftin (doubtful) would be lysed. Watch for any bad reaction (side effects) to the Omnicef (always possible!) & discontinue if it becomes problematic. BTW, I think the need for this "extra dosing" would depend a lot on how "engorged" that infected tick was... when you found it on him.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
Maureen, can you call your Lyme doctor and ask so you don't have to wait for an appointment?
I would definitely err on the side of caution and make sure he is treated long enough. Early infections are the easiest to cure.
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I was treated 10 weeks after my tick bite with 3 months of Ceftin, though at a "regular" dose, not a high one. I had improved, but relapsed 2 days after I stopped the drug. I still had some symptoms when I stopped. Now I am still battling it, more than a year after my tick bite.
I would get the advice of a Lyme doctor. Personally, I would want to make sure it was treated as early as possible and as long as necessary to get rid of it. It is much easier to get rid of it early.
I would also make an appt. with a pediatric Lyme doctor now, so that if your child is still sick by then, you will already have the appt. You can always cancel it if you don't need it.
Posted by maureen2174 (Member # 11471) on :
Thank you everyone. I could not find the pediatric dosage for ceftin anywhere for lyme. he was on 375 mg. per day (he weighs about 35 lbs).
my llmd was actually no help at all. I called her office the day after the tick bite and they told me to clean the bite and wait for a rash and/or symptoms. so forget that option of calling to ask for her advice. I told the office that i was going to take him to the pediatrician that afternoon and they said he would probably not be given abx. (so basically not to bother).
i really have noone to ask except for people here.
good idea about calling to set up appt. with pediatric lyme doctor and cancel ahead of time if we don't need it.
the omnicef dosage is 250 mg. 1x a day. i started him on that yesterday.
any advice on meds and correct dosages????
he was given azithromycin within 12 hours of the bite and within 36 hours started the ceftin. Like I said, he has no symptoms that i can tell.
CONTROVERSY CONTINUES TO FUEL THE "LYME WAR" - 2007
" . . .To treat Lyme disease for a comparable number of life cycles, treatment would need to last 30 weeks. . . ." -
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
That 375mg/day of "Ceftin" (cefuroxime), if he's only 35 pounds, is/was just fine.
Zithromax (azithromycin) is fairly INeffective against B.B.(Lyme) by itSELF. It's best combined with a "cell-wall abx", like Ceftin, but added In after a week or 2. But at This point, of course, don't bother with any more Zith.
If any liquid Zith left over, toss it. (relatively short shelf life) Tablets (red) can be stored- sealed- in a freezer for many months w/o losing potency & will save you $$ if [any of] you are prescribed "Zith" in the future, for either a Lyme-combo treatment or certain respiratory infections, say.
BTW, that Omnicef (cefdinir) dosage, for a 35# boy, sounds about right as well. Good luck!
P.S: No sweets for now! Rememtber those probiotics (i.e: plain yoghurts &/or capsules) & watch for diarrhea.
Posted by maureen2174 (Member # 11471) on :
kete-tracker,
THANK YOU!!!!!! You provided me with great info.
Keebler- I doubt there is any way I would get a doctor to prescribe 30 weeks of abx to him just based on the tick bite. I am pretty sure in Dr. J in CT even prescribes less than 30 weeks for early lyme.
Isn't it true that not everyone bit by an infected tick, will end up with lyme? I sure hope so!!!!
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
quote: "Isn't it true that not everyone bit by an infected tick, will end up with lyme?"
If the tick only bit in & was removed in the first 2-4 hours, it's highly unlikely (but Possible) the person will contract Lyme, even w/o abx.
But even if the "sick tick" was engorged... With sufficient early treatment, like you're doing, it still would be very unusual that ANYONE would end up developing the disease. (He should be fine. )
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
) & following with the prescribed level of Omnicef for a couple weeks should do no harm (as long as he's given probiotics concurrently thru ALL of this- taken daily, atleast 2 hrs after an abx dose).