LymeNet Flash: Tick on 4.5 year old daughter - should she be treated immediately?

This is topic Tick on 4.5 year old daughter - should she be treated immediately? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by drew (Member # 25220) on :

Hi All,

Found a tick on my daughter today (2nd time). Pulled it out of her scalp. Ugly thing is still alive and in a plastic baggy.

Probably latched on sometime today at pre-school, found this evening. Didn't seem to be too embedded or too bloated with blood or anything.

it's kinda a big one. Maybe an adult tick. Not sure if there is a specific kind that is more likely to carry infection (they all do I think).

Lots of debate on whether or not to treat children this young immediately. Just curious on peoples experiences. My pediatrician isn't a treat first kinda guy. But if I force his had he will.

Also, is it worth it to get the tick tested? Or is that a waste of time.

Thanks to all for advice....

Drew

Posted by drew (Member # 25220) on :

Based on the markings, it has a spot (sorta shiny tan...maybe silverish, hard to tell) right behind it's head. Is that a dog tick? Those are still dangerous right?

Was not engorged, looks pretty flat. Man I hate these things.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

I got my most-recent Lyme (8-9 yeras ago) from a dog tick attached less than 6 hours and not engorged.

When my child got bitten, I treated prophylactically as recommended to me by the PA at my LLMD's office. As it was, my son (18 years old at the time) never got sick, which was good because he was non-compliant with his meds.

Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :

I am sorry your daughter was bitten. Female lone-star ticks have a white dot on them. You can see at photo at http://www.lymenet.org/picture3.shtml

Even though tick testing is not 100%, I would have it tested at IgeneX Lab http://igenex.com/Website/ The tick testing form is under "Test Request Forms" at http://www.igenex.com/files/ticktest.pdf

Posted by drew (Member # 25220) on :

Hi Sammi/6goofy,

Thanks for the responses. Regarding what kind of tick, the thing it looks most like is the dog tick in this pic:

http://www.tickencounter.org/tick_identification

Though it is really hard to be sure. It looks like it has a shiny small collar behind its neck with a brownish shiny center in the middle of the collar.

I think i will probably go get it tested...but if I was going to treat her immediately, what difference does it make...I guess it's good to know.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

I got Lyme from dog ticks. Any tick can carry disease.

Posted by drew (Member # 25220) on :

I just realized you can't see a pic from that link, but if you find the dog tick it looks most like that, the female, unengorged with the u shaped spot behind its neck (gulf coast tick has something similar but we live in NY)...