posted
People keep asking me what to do when they find an embedded tick. I have been recommending 3 weeks of Doxy because I heard that somewhere, but want to make sure I'm giving the right advice.
The public health dept. took issue with my letter to the editor recommendation and recommended looking for a rash, watching for flu-like symptoms, etc. and pointed out that the vast majority of ticks in California are not I. Pacifica, but varieties that don't carry Lyme.
I thought I remembered my LLND telling me that tick ID wasn't very helpful because other ticks can carry Lyme as well.
Any thoughts?
-------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Anonymous Posts: 450 | From California | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I had an embedded tick, with no symptoms for 10 weeks, then developed Lyme, unbeknownst to me. And this happens for many - ie no initial bull's eye or other symptoms for awhile. So it is my opinion that it is better to treat for a known tick bite.
Best to treat for 6-8 weeks, 200-300mg doxycycline. Three weeks of doxy is too little.
The main California tick that transmits Lyme is the western black-legged tick, called Ixodes Pacificus. However, some other ticks can also transmit Lyme and co-infections too.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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