LymeNet Flash: Pediatrician says Bartonella does not need treatment per CDC

This is topic Pediatrician says Bartonella does not need treatment per CDC in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :

I just came from my daughter's pediatrician and asked him to retest her for Bartonella as she had positive antibody titres last year. He reluctantly agreed but told me the CDC just came out with a report that says that Bartonella will go away on its own.

I find this hard to believe and was wondering if anyone else has heard of this? Thanks!

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

All I have to say is: Aughhh, the CDC. [Mad]

Posted by yanivnaced (Member # 13212) on :

I think it might be self-limiting in the absence of lyme (or maybe even in the presence of Lyme? Do we truly know?)

When I was a kid my pet cat bit my hand to the bone. I had a fever following that but never went to see a doctor. It went away on its own.

Posted by Sojourner (Member # 9424) on :

The acute illness went away, but how do we know that an even more insidious, chronic, stealthy infection didn't become established?

Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :

I wouldn't trust it to be self-limiting ever.

You need an LLMD for all tick-borne infections;

I personally know someone who'd have died of unaccompanied

Ehrlichiosis if he hadn't found one.

Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

Hey am...

You said.. "He reluctantly agreed but told me the CDC just came out with a report that says that Bartonella will go away on its own."

First thing I would do is call the office and ask them to send you that report.

As far as I know they still don't admit ticks carry Bartonella.. so they are NOT with the program at all.

And yes, early reports were that Bartonella was a "self-limited" illness... but the Bumsteere gang said that about Lyme too.. for a LONG time.

So please follow through as Bartonella can be as bad or worse to get rid of than Lyme.

OK?

[Big Grin]

Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :

You are right Tincup-OK!

Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :

I second the motion.

daise [Smile]

Posted by Visual Afterimage Man (Member # 10435) on :

This MIGHT be true in an individual who has a normal immune system function.

Lyme suppresses the immune system.

So someone suffering from Lyme probably isn't going to kick Bart w/o meds. No immune systems means no defense.

Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :

The CDC is not considering the "bartonella like organisms" that Dr. B talks about. Hiker53

Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :

A possible next step...a picture is worth a thousand words! See the 2 photos here:

http://www.frylaboratories.com/photos.html

Evidence of infection helps all involved (patient, family and the stubborn PCP). It's not a solution, but often a very constructive first step to take in the long journey.

Fry Labs requires payment up front, but some-many insurance companies will reimburse the patient.

No, I don't work for them -- I just see many patients get valuable information from their services!

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

Wow...he's gotten fancy. My daughter was one of the early patients to get her blood smear done

I would even add that bartonella is also transmitted by lice and mosquitoes. We don't ever recall a tick bite, but my daughter has had numerous mosquito bites on our trips to OK, and in first grade, she kept getting lice from a little girl who's parents didn't treat. [Mad]

It's very difficult to treat. I am not sure it is self-limiting. I think it goes into remission if your immune system is healthy.

Dr. F (blood guy), thinks that I may have had a good immune system keeping my bartonella suppressed, and now it's starting to show itself with seizures, vision problems, fatigue, and depression.

I may have gotten infected as long ago as 1990 when my husband and I were sick for three years with EBV. Then, I got Parvo, then a weird double viral pneumonia.

I'm putting off treatment....I really don't want to go back to the place I was in 1990. I need to take care of too many people.

If you suspect bart...get tested and treat it.

Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :

Llmds in our area are saying that bartonella & the bart-like strains that Dr. B.speaks of are nasty players in this disease & preventing folks from getting well.