posted
I found a Deer tick on my daughter yesterday. Took her to the Dr. They looked at tick under scope and said no blood in abdomen so it probably had just attached. Didnt want to give Antibiotics, said to wait for rash or other symptoms. Most likely it hadnt been on very long. Said CDC does not recommend medication this early. What are they chances she will get Lyme Disease? I am very paranoid after reading this site.
Posts: 1 | From Waldoboro Maine | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Having had Lyme myself, if my son got a tick, I would strongly suggest some antibiotics. But we may be more paranoid than most people because we've been through it. My doctor told me to wait for the rash, and 3 weeks later I got it. Even after a month of IV antibiotics, I developed chronic Lyme symptoms. The earlier you can eradicate any possibility of the Lyme, the better off you are.
Posts: 39 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Jul 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
personally I would wait for a rash. 40% at best ever develope the rash. And when you get bit the infections can lay dormant and surface days/weeks/months/years later.
There is a thread going on just below this called "Child with a tick bite" that you may want to read. There is some good feedback about this.
Take care
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Just because the tick didn't have her blood in IT doesn't mean that it didn't regurgitate some of the prior contents of its own stomach into her, possibly infecting her with who knows what. If it was attached, how was the tick removed? If irritated or squeezed during removal, it can spit germs out into the victim in the process. If the tick was saved, it can be sent to Igenex.com to test for lyme or some of the other co-infections.
One factor to consider about prophylactic treatment (before symptoms) is that it will abort the immune response so that she will likely test negative for lyme even if she has it. That can make it hard to get more treatment if needed. On the other hand, it could abort the spread of infection as well, so it's a toss-up as to what to do.
I sent my tick for DNA testing at Igenex, and meanwhile waited 5 days from my tickbite before taking meds. I was given abx on the condition I not take them unless I had symptoms, and by the time I had the symptoms five days later, it had already spread such that I'm still fighting this thing 7 years later.
If it were my child, I'd ask an LLMD to give her some abx immediately (a combo with tinidazole vs. the cyst forms), and follow up as needed. They'll know she'll then likely test negatively on antibody (Western Blot/Elisa) tests, but can use other means like PCR or antigen tests that Igenex can do.
Posts: 193 | From Virginia | Registered: Oct 2002
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
Hi, Mainemom,
Yes, it is possible for the tick to transmit disease without being engorged, although it is less likely. How much less? No one knows for sure.
In Maine, the most likely places to be bit by infected ticks are 1.) coastal towns, and 2.) riverside towns. That's probably because migrating birds have been transporting infected ticks, and the coast and rivers are often their flight paths.
Regards, Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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