Hello, I hope somebody can answer this question. My 10 year old son has been ill since April and we are still going to different specialists to try and figure out what is wrong. First he had fingertip swelling that itched and hurt. He was put on Zyrtec as it was believed to be due to allergies. He has multiple allergies. Less than 1 week later, he had a reaction on both hands..they hurt, and bruised, turning purple. He was put on prednisone to calm his immune system and thought he might have an autoimmune problem. He was very ill on the prednisone and the doctor had to wean him off quicker. He was worked up for Lupus and other autoimmune diseases. The tests showed an inflammatory process, but no autoimmune problem. I was told it is probably a virus. His western blot for lyme was negative, with the exception of band 41 and that testing was done 1 week after he finished prednisone. He was tested for Ebstein Barr virus...also negative. He has experienced multiple rashes..all seem to be different and I was told it is chronic hives. He has not had a classic bulls eye rash, but he has had rings under his earlobes that migrated outward for several days. Circular hives on face, typical hives on body and hands and a new one that looked like flea bites on torso. He now has what looks like a sunburn on his waist. He has had cycles of facial flushing sometimes with a low grade fever. Does this sound like Lyme???
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Hank,
many here have trouble reading large blocks of type. So that more people can read - and reply - here's your post with some breathing room added. I also added some "bullets" to make it easier to track key points. --------------------
Hank writes:
Hello,
I hope somebody can answer this question.
My 10 year old son has been ill since April and we are still going to different specialists to try and figure out what is wrong.
First he had fingertip swelling that itched and hurt. He was put on Zyrtec as it was believed to be due to allergies. He has multiple allergies. Less than 1 week later, he had a reaction on both hands..they hurt, and bruised, turning purple.
* He was put on prednisone to calm his immune system and thought he might have an autoimmune problem. He was very ill on the prednisone and the doctor had to wean him off quicker. He was worked up for Lupus and other autoimmune diseases. The tests showed an inflammatory process, but no autoimmune problem.
I was told it is probably a virus.
* His western blot for lyme was negative, with the exception of band 41 and that testing was done 1 week after he finished prednisone.
He was tested for Ebstein Barr virus...also negative. He has experienced multiple rashes..all seem to be different and I was told it is chronic hives.
* He has not had a classic bulls eye rash, but he has had rings under his earlobes that migrated outward for several days.
* Circular hives on face, typical hives on body and hands and a new one that looked like flea bites on torso.
He now has what looks like a sunburn on his waist. He has had cycles of facial flushing sometimes with a low grade fever.
Does this sound like Lyme???
(Hank, in NH) -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Many of your questions - and lots of links - are over at a companion thread:
I hope you've been able to take photos of the rashes. I posted a link at the other thread for the LDA to look at rashes from many of the tick-borne infections. It sounds like this could be Rocky Mountain Spotted fever (rash that looks like flea bites), Lyme (rings under ear lobed that migrated out is classic lyme rash), and possibly Bartonella (circular hives could be lyme &/or a kind of bartonella streak).
I know the prednisone is over but also avoid steroid cream.
For the rashes, I'll be back with topical gel that might help but I really hope you get in ASAP to a LLMD. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
(Boericke &Tafel's brand is non-oily and very easy to use. Boiron's brand of calendula gel is very greasy, thick and much less effective, in my experience. It might be better for diaper rash and such, though. )
Extracted from the leaf of certified organic plants, our aloe vera does not resemble processed aloe. All we add is a little of Aubrey's natural preservative. Because we use no artificial thickeners, its consistency and clarity may vary.
===========================
I keep this tube in my fridge to add a cooling touch and also help it stay fresh longer in summer months:
Free Of: Parabens, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, and animal by-products. -
Posted by LymeXtu (Member # 24590) on :
Hank - Please save yourself and your son the stress and agony and have him evaluated by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD).
My son suffered through 5 months of strange symptoms before finally getting a Lyme disease diagnosis along with Erlichiosis and Babesia.
Ticks carry much more than just Lyme Disease.
Does he have a history of tick bites and if so were the ticks properly removed ?
If he has had numerous tick bites and if the ticks were removed by just grasping them with fingers and pulling them off the chance of this being Lyme is high.
Along with my 13 yr old son I also have Lyme Disease and have ALOT of problems with my feet it all started with itching, now they hurt and turn purple and the refill time after applying pressure is slow and strange looking.
My son gets this on his hands as well.
Take Care
Posted by LymeXtu (Member # 24590) on :
Hank - My son also has had weight gain, the Lyme actually has caused him to have Thyroid problems (hypothyroid).
Does your son ever seem to get overheated easily?
like exercise intolerance?
And are his allergies new or has he always had them ?
Posted by Hank (Member # 27008) on :
My son has always overheated easily. He has a lot of allergies, both food and environmental....he has now developed more food sensitivities and he is on an ellimination diet to see if it helps him.
I just want him well and I know in my heart that something is wrong and the medical community has not been able to figure it out.