posted
Last weekend we went camping and I forgot the bug spray. On Monday I noticed a huge bite on my three year old but I believe it was probably a mosquito bite he got while outside playing with his dad that morning. There was another small bite near it and he said it was itching. So Tuesday morning it had a red circle around it about an inch and by lunch it looked like a bullseye to me. That afternoon the bullseye was fading and on Wednesday the redness was gone and it just looked like a scabbed bug bite. It never expanded etc. It was very itchy and it was only an inch in diameter. I immediately worry about Lymes disease bc EVERYTHING I read says nothing creates a bulleye except Lymes . I should have taken him straight in so they could see it but I didn't. I feel like I failed my son. I did take pics and consulted a Teledoc and his pediatrician and both said just to monitor him bc they didn't think it was a concern since it faded so quickly. I hate antibiotics and wouldn't want to medicate him for 21 days for no reason, but im also afraid not to. If I ask them to do a blood test the time frame will be off? Plus I doubt I'll find a doctor willing to do it with no symptoms. I had a similar situation a couple months ago and it ended up not being a bullseye but the pediatrician refused to test. I have very good pics of the bite and the progression and the bite is still there only a small scabbed dot.
What does a mom do? We have no LLMD within eight hours that I've found.
Posts: 5 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2017
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
breaking up above post so all can read:
Last weekend we went camping and I forgot the bug spray. On Monday I noticed a huge bite on my three year old but I believe it was probably a mosquito bite he got while outside playing with his dad that morning.
There was another small bite near it and he said it was itching. So Tuesday morning it had a red circle around it about an inch and by lunch it looked like a bullseye to me.
That afternoon the bullseye was fading and on Wednesday the redness was gone and it just looked like a scabbed bug bite. It never expanded etc.
It was very itchy and it was only an inch in diameter. I immediately worry about Lymes disease bc EVERYTHING I read says nothing creates a bulleye except Lymes . I should have taken him straight in so they could see it but I didn't.
I feel like I failed my son. I did take pics and consulted a Teledoc and his pediatrician and both said just to monitor him bc they didn't think it was a concern since it faded so quickly.
I hate antibiotics and wouldn't want to medicate him for 21 days for no reason, but im also afraid not to. If I ask them to do a blood test the time frame will be off?
Plus I doubt I'll find a doctor willing to do it with no symptoms.
I had a similar situation a couple months ago and it ended up not being a bullseye but the pediatrician refused to test.
I have very good pics of the bite and the progression and the bite is still there only a small scabbed dot.
What does a mom do? We have no LLMD within eight hours that I've found.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Any insect bite can cause some redness around itself and some itchiness.
It sounds like he gets redness around any bite since the same thing happened a few months ago.
The redness DID fade awfully quickly. Let's hope it was nothing. And, definitely watch him for any symptoms.
Most regular doctors are NOT going to help you in a case like this unless your child has symptoms. Keep the pictures you have in case something comes of this.
Where was the bite on his body?
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Well the one from a few months ago looked like a bullseye but we finally figured out it was from laying on something in his bed. This was a true bite of some sort and most certainly did appear to me to be a bullseye (albeit the bullseye didn't last 24 hours).
The bite is on the outside of his leg below his knee. There was also.another bite close by which made me think it was mosquito.
No symptoms really other than he complained of leg pain for about ten minutes on Saturday but he did the same thing last week before the bute, both times after his nap and I assumed growing pains.
What other symptoms should I be alert for ? The only thing that scares me is the notion he may not have symptoms and get sick outside of the stage one window.
-------------------- Hiya! Posts: 5 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2017
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posted
So he had a bite but there was no tick? Chances are that you would have had to remove the tick if it was a tick bite. Ticks don't drop off for days.
Watch out for any odd symptoms, especially flu-like symptoms.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
There is a good list of lyme symptoms on pages 9-11 of the Burrascano Lyme Treatment Guidelines found here:
posted
Welcome to Lymenet! PM sent with names of LLMDs in other states.
I would take your dear little son to be evaluated by a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD) a.s.a.p.!!! LLMDs are far and few between, unfortunately, so you need to go where they are.
When calling for an appointment, ask if they have any cancellations or a waiting list. Patients have been able to get in sooner by doing this.
You're right to be concerned about the bites your dear little son has gotten. I do not want to alarm you, but any biting insect can transmit Lyme disease and co-infection. Keep a close eye on him to see if he is exhibiting any symptoms.
This is a link with good information about symptoms:
Many years ago, my son had an oval red rash (not a bulls-eye one with concentric circles) on his thigh with several mosquito bites on it. I came to find out later that this was a form of the bull's-eye rash.
It took six years just to find out what was wrong with our son and he has been ill for seventeen now.
Here are some links for you with good information about Lyme and children:
Lyme is a clinical diagnosis based on medical history, tests, symptoms, etc., made by a LLMD. If it is determined your child does have Lyme disease - which I pray he does not - then here is a link for a book titled, "When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent's Survival Guide" which also might be helpful:
Btw - I know you are new to Lymenet, but please break up your posts into 2-3 sentence paragraphs, as there are people on Lymenet who cannot read large blocks of text due to neurological problems from Lyme.
To do this click the pencil/paper icon, make your changes, then click "Edit Post". Thanks.
It is very important that you be your son's health care advocate.
God bless you and your family.
Posts: 8978 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I consulted a third pediatrician and he said not Lyme as well. It's been two weeks since he had the bullseye that lasted about 6-7 hours, actual bite about four days total.
Last night he woke up at least four times crying. He has drainage and it's making his throat hurt slightly, but this morning his nose is running. He keeps snorting bc of the drainage.
He is happy as a lark and his usual self this morning aside from the super runny nose. He says his throat isn't hurting now.
He has gotten several mosquito type bites in the last week and they all got pretty red, but none like the bullseye bite.
His face has some pimple type bumps on it.
Is the runny nose and drainage probable symptoms or likely a summer virus or allergies? My newborn sounds congested as well, but that's not unusual for her.
I do trust the last doctor I showed the picture to, but he's not a LLMD.
-------------------- Hiya! Posts: 5 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2017
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posted
The body tries to push dis-ease to the surface (skin, mucous membranes) so it is in the best interest to let the drainage run it's course without giving anything to suppress it.
I'm not saying one way or the other a diagnosis because I am not a doctor...just explaining how the body sorts itself out.
All the best to you and your child.
Posts: 764 | From Northwest | Registered: Sep 2014
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posted
He has a fever now. 99.6. I'm taking him to the doctor but we can only see the nurse practitioner today. On the flip side, my newborn is super fussy and snotty so I'm wondering if they don't both have a virus or cold.
-------------------- Hiya! Posts: 5 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2017
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
I think, by what I keep reading, the bullseye rash happens only at least 10 days after the bite (10-14 days or so). It does not show up in one day, as far as I know.
Unless he had older contamination with Borrelia.
That's just what I read.
In my case, it took exactly about 10-14 days after the bite. And it did expand, slowly in the first days after it appeared, and very fast after about a week.
If it were a bullseye rash, it would be probably because he already had exposure to Borrelia, in my opinion. but in my case, it did expand a lot and lasted many days (until I doxy).
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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