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Originally posted by sjones1:
Our daughter was bitten April 16th 2005 and we just recieved our Bowen results. The Dilution Value is 1:128 which is the highest. I thought that since we caught it early it would be lower. Can someone explain this again. Our lyme doctor didn't go over is very much. It was Q-RIBb: Positive. Borrelia. She was negative for coinfections.

Thanks

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You said your daughter was bitten 2 months ago.

Can't explain the high Seial Dilution Value, but it seems to me that if the tick was attached a long time, then she could have gotten a higher number of bacteria, which then multiplied.

In my case, tick was attached 4-6 hours maximum. I had a bull's eye rash the size of an egg but NO other symptoms for 5 to 10 years.

About 10 years ago(?), Dr L of NY wrote a letter to a medical journal stating that he believed a short attachment time resulted in few bacteria. Longer attachment - more bacteria.
As expected, the higher number multiplying would reach high levels quickly.

This could be one possible explanation.

Another possibility is that maybe she already had Lyme before the tick bite in April. Her immune system could've been fighting it & possibly keeping noticeable symptoms from developing.

My grandson had LD a couple years before we realized he was slowly developing symptoms.
Mainly affected his eyes & schoolwork became increasingly difficult (like ADD but it was the Lyme).

How old is she?
Does she have symptoms?
Is she on abx now?
Is she seeing Dr C in MO?

He has a website with lots of info & I've heard he has lots of handouts.
Is the Bowen test discussed in any of that?

Anytime a rash is present at the site of a tick bite, take pictures!!
As it changes, take more pictures.
Put a coin or ruler next to the rash to show the size of it.

Date the picture & keep in your family's permanent medical files.
If health problems occur in the future, the picture of the rash is your proof of Lyme Disease.

dlandaddict -
Is the pediatrician treating her for Lyme disease?
Is the dose strong enough per day?
How long is she to take Keflex?

I'm sorry but I don't know anything about Keflex for LD. Maybe others will respond.

You cannot ignore this

The serial dilution is reflective of lyme bacteria found in the BLOOD which is typical of a new infection. Later infections can have lower serial dilutions because the bacteria is hidden in the cells and in so many different undetectable ways.

This would be good news to me. Bacteria in the blood is treatable! If the disease remained untreated, the bacteria would start lodging into organs and tissues and be harder to reach. The bacteria can still reach get into organs and tissues, but if treatment is given, the patient has much more control over the disease and making preventative steps for other syptoms is the key. You are in that position now. Late stage lyme can frequently have lower counts. Mine was 1:16 and I had been very dibilitated for numerous years.

I don't have a current # but I am incredibly better and enjoy fulltime employment that is very physical (hairdresser) and I do it with ease. I am 48 and healthier than most of the others at work (there are 15+ stylists) because I know what is wrong and am treated.

I hope this helps :-)

Remember, every tick is carrying a different lyme disease. About 300 types of this disease. The more aggressive the treatment for the child, the better the chances of recovery.

Children do recover quicker but you must be aggressive. Make sure your doctor is lyme literate. If they only treat for a short time, go to another doctor.

Take pictures all the time. Did it state the child had the L form cyst? Make sure you spray with DEET every time you go outside. This will help keep the critters off of all of you.

Welcome and take care.

I don't know the children's dose

How much does she weigh?
If she was given a total of 250 mg Amoxicillin per day, that would not be enough according to Dr B.

Print a copy of "Diag Hints & Treatment Guidelines...", 32 pages of excellent info. www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html

Dr B recommends the following under "Antibiotic Choices":
Amoxicillin:
Children: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses

My pharmacist did the math for me & "kg" dose translated into "lbs" would be:
35 lb child - about 800 mg per day
70 lb child - about 1500 mg per day

I don't know anything about Dr R in Grandview or Dr C.
The only Dr C I know about is in Springfield.

I recommend that you take a copy of Dr B's Guidelines to your dr & see if he/she will follow his recommendations.
Also, for another opinion, your dr really should call & consult with the outstanding Lyme Pediatrician in New Haven, CT.

He has given permission to post his info here.
Dr Charles Ray Jones
Phone: 203 - 772 - 1123

For more info about him, read "The Children of L.D." that he wrote: www.wildernetwork.org/LDpediatricfund.html

My 13 yr old grandson is being treated by Dr Jones because he did not get early treatment for LD. We believe he's had it since he was 7 yrs old, but his symptoms were few & not typical of those listed in the medical books. Now the disease is much more difficult to deal with. He will be on treatment for several years.

If your daughter has just had Lyme 2 months, you want to be sure she gets adequate treatment now.
The earlier the treatment, the better the results, but ONLY if treatment is strong enough & long enough.

You only get ONE chance to treat early. The opportunity won't come around again.

Just noticed you gave her age, so I've edited that question out of my response.