Hello- I am new to this Discussion board and Lyme, and I am looking for some advice.
I pulled a very small Deer Tick off of my 5 year old daughter. It was embedded on her arm and I removed it with tweezers. It was still alive and not bloated at all...may have been a nymph.
I drove the tick to a lab in Maryland for testing and should get results today. Here are my questions...
1. If the tick test comes out positive, should I assume my girl is infected and use antibiotics? Which one(s) for a 5 year old and for how long?
2. If the test comes back negative, do I wait to see if other symptoms show up, before starting antibiotics.
3. Should I just assume that the tick is infected and start prophylaxis antibiotics? If yes, what is best anti biotic for a 5 year old for "prevention"
I'm extremely worried right now and very confused over all the information I've just absorbed regarding Lyme.
One final question...If I get pushback from my pediatrician, can someone recommend a Doctor/Pediatrician who is well versed in Lyme disease in Maryland. We live just northwest of Baltimore MD.
Thanks!
Posted by t9im (Member # 25489) on :
Hi Jay:
I'm not a MD, just a father with an 11 year old who has Lyme and Babesia.
In CT, 2009
University of New Haven did tick drags (researchers going on trails collecting ticks by dragging burlap against foilage) and 92% of ticks were infected with Lyme.
Of ticks sent to state for testing 42% were infected with LB.
Now the longer a tick if feeding the higher the odds one becomes infected. The more compromised ones immune system (think young child) the lower its odds of fighting tick borne infections.
MD's & NP's are well meaning but the controversy has left them ignorant and in many instances they are against any treatment until symptoms manifest themselves. Unfortunatley this has proven to be the incorrect way to handle treatment for immune compromised individuals.
I think one needs to be over 8 for Doxy (the drug of choice as it also goes after Erlichia) but maybe amoxicilian (sp)?
Try seeking a Maryland MD on the Doctor discussion section for help as well.
Posted by t9im (Member # 25489) on :
P.S.
The ellisa test has a 35% false negative rate and the EM rash shows up in only 60% of cases.
The tests are not accurate.
Posted by jenn (Member # 21687) on :
Agree with t9im!
I know in NY when you send a tick for testing to the State Lab they will ONLY tell you the type of tick and if it was engorged! They will NOT tell you if it has Lyme or co-infections....I'm sure every state is the same, but let me know if I'm wrong!
I use prophylactic treatment with my kids...we we're just in ER this weekend with an embedded tick and walked out of ER with NO treatment.
Started my 9yr old on ceftin...till my llmd switched to doxy.
Doxy can't be used on children younger than 8, but in the past we treated with ceftin. Although it doesn't cover co-infections I was aware of what symptoms I was waiting for with co-infections.... luckily he was fine!!
IgeneX lab will test tick for Lyme and co-infections and give you results....we did this as well, but it takes a while to get results back.
Hope this helps a little Posted by JayS (Member # 31771) on :
Thanks to those who have replied so far. Much appreciated. For additional information, I took the tick to a private Lab called Clongen (clongen.com) Does anyone have experience with these folks? I had not heard of IgeneX, so this is where I went.
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