My daughter was bite by a tick 2 weeks ago and got sick 7 days later with mono. She is 5 years old. Could this be a false mono test? It was a finger prick test. The peds said they can't treat for lyme when she has mono. thanks!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- First, not sure how accurate the mono finger-stick test is but from what I've learned, thinking any test can be a "false" positive can be very misleading.
Are the "peds" you mention ILADS-educated and lyme literate? Details below.
I would ask a LLMD about that. I know that ticks can carry any number of infections. I don't see why mono might not be one of those.
It may be too soon to test for lyme but I would sure want her assessed seriously by a LLMD for that since she got ill a week later.
I hope others will reply who have more experience here but, really, IMO, you would treat for BOTH - and test for other tick-borne infections, too.
I'm so sorry about this. It's just so complex and such a political nightmare for patients when most doctors know so little about lyme.
(What ILADS is) . . . WHY you need an ILADS-educated, Lyme Literate Doctor - starting with assessment / evaluation. -
Posted by canaanbites (Member # 32852) on :
I have heard of so many people getting lyme AND mono, or just mono, which later turns out to be lyme....
I am pretty sure that mono tests are relatively accurate- but also that there is some connection between lyme and mono. Did your daughter definately have a positive test for mono? I would get a copy of all of her blood work, by the way...
My childrens' pediatrician called their illnesses "mono" on several occasions - once, when one of my sons was 4, he was sooooo sick, with the stiff neck, aching legs, fever...the doctor insisted it was mono, even though the test was negative.
I was a bit naive at the time, and knew nothing about lyme except that I thought he might have it but the doc said no, so that was the end of that.
Now I know that he had lyme, and NOT mono.
However, if you daughter actually DOES have a positive mono test, then the question is does she have lyme as well. If my child was bitten by a tick 2 weeks ago, he/she would DEFINATELY be on antibiotics now - no question!
I am not sure about not treating for lyme when she has mono - but personally, I wouldn't take a chance!
Try to do a search in this forum for "lyme and mono" and I am sure you will find more information.
I suggest taking her to a lyme literate doctor to avoid her lyme going untreated. I am sure someone will post something more informative about mono - good luck! CB
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It could be that mono was already in her system but dormant and Lyme could have caused the mono flare -- but also a mix of symptoms.
In college, I was dx with mono, which I had. Lyme was unheard of then (1971 in Wisconsin).
But I realized later, that's likely when lyme and bartonella started for me - all at the same time. Classic symptoms for all. They just said they'd never seen such an unusual case of mono. -
Posted by Larae30 (Member # 35220) on :
I was told I had mono and believed it for a month or two, but KNEW something else was going on...
I asked my dr. to do a lyme test after doing my own research and I was positive. Basically the lyme and co. reactivated EBV, which causes mono. Lyme suppresses your immune system and can bring viruses to light again that have been dormant in your body.
There is no real treatment for mono besides supporting your immune system and treating for lyme.
Posted by kathy2 (Member # 37121) on :
thanks to all that replied! i have a call into the docs to get the lyme test and see if I can put her back on the amoxicillian (sp?). thank you
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Ditto what Larae said. My Lyme reactivated my mono at age 30! Common. I don't see why Lyme couldn't be treated while one has mono. It is done all the time as most with Lyme have active mono due to reactivation. Please bring your daughter to a LLMD or integrative physician.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
My first clue that something was wrong was a case of mono. That was many many years before my lyme diagnosis.
Many Lyme patients have both. Lyme treatment will usually allow the patient to beat the mono since their body is better able to handle it.
Posted by koo (Member # 30462) on :
I see not much has changed since I got bit 40 years ago. I remember the MD thinking it was mono as well back then.
Posted by bellajo (Member # 28738) on :
22years ago I was ill and told it was mono, ended up in the hospital and they couldn't figure it out. It was lyme the whole time. Lots of us with lyme have high EBV.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by koo: I see not much has changed since I got bit 40 years ago. I remember the MD thinking it was mono as well back then.
- Yep, mine was 44 yrs ago!
Posted by Larae30 (Member # 35220) on :
My dr. failed to mention that it was reactivated mono, too! When I got my test results I saw that I had elevated #'s for the past and present.
I don't remember ever having mono before, but I must've. I thought it was weird to get mono at 30, too...
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Yeah, stupid infectious disease doc said numbers indicated recent infection and numbers were still up (at age 30). When I got my records from his office there was something written from him indicating that he thought it was all in my head. I remember trying to drive to that appointment having to pull over several times along the way b/c I was so sick but "it was all in my head".
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
We have to remember that Kathy is posting about her young 5yr old daughter. She most likely has an acute mono infection, not a reactivation of a past infection.
Usually antibiotics are stopped when the diagnosis of mono is made by a positive test. This is because mono is a virus and antibiotics won't be effective in treating it. Also, mono is notorious for causing a rash that is easily mistaken for a medication allergy. You don't want your child to forever be labeled as allergic to amoxil because she got a rash from mono...
Obviously, the tick bite is a serious concern. You do need to have your daughter tested for Lyme and possibly consult with a pediatric LLMD to see when and if you could restart her on the amoxil to prevent a Lyme infection.