LymeNet Flash: child with recent bite

This is topic child with recent bite in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Brooklyn (Member # 7487) on :

Hi-

I found a tick between my 5-year old's toes this morning after a day in Westchester and pulled it off with a tweezers, but I need some initial advice:

1. Does the tick need to be alive or dead for testing and how do I accomplish that and where do I send it for testing?

2. What specific resources can I give her pediatrician so that she treats her properly (correct antibiotic and dosage, timely follow-up, what sort of tests for other tick-borne diseases are required, etc.)

I'm sure I'll have follow-up questions but these will help to start me off. Thanks.

Posted by Ruthanne (Member # 7484) on :

The most important thing is to call the doctor right away. Some doctors start treatment right away to prevent Lyme disease. THe tick should be kept alive for testing. Put it in a container or zip-loch bag with a damp cotton ball or a few blandes of grass. It has to be kept slightly moist. You can send it to IgeneX Labs in Palo Alto, CA or to NJ Labs. IgeneX charges $55 for a Lyme test; NJ labs charges $60. Call the labs for the address and mailing instructions, and to find out whether the price has changed.
Did you squeeze the body of the tick when removing it with tweezers? That can squirt germs into the bite site. The safest way to remove a tick is by sliding something under it, such as a credit card or a tick remover. You can buy a Pro-Tick Remedy tick remover by doing an Internet search, or buy one in a tick removal kit sold at www.Lymefight.org . (You have to send a check for $5 in the mail.)
Although testing ticks is more accurate than human testing, it is still not perfect. TV hostess Rosie O'Donnell removed a tick from her daughter. The tick was tested and it was negative, but her daughter still got Lyme disease.
The phone number for IgeneX is 1-800-832-3200; for NJ Labs is 1-800-732-249-0148.

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ruthanne:
TV hostess Rosie O'Donnell removed a tick from her daughter. The tick was tested and it was negative, but her daughter still got Lyme disease.
The phone number for IgeneX is 1-800-832-3200; for NJ Labs is 1-800-732-249-0148.

UH-OH... I thought that test was pretty definitive....BUT I've been having problems ever since another tick bite 2 months ago.

Brooklyn.....why don't you post this over in Medical. Many more people will see it there.

Welcome to Lymenet! I'll be back tomorrow to check on you.

You need to get hold of DR Charles Jones in CT for your daughter. he's the BEST.

Tincup's Links for new members
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Guidelines http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm

Rose's 15 Facts for Newcomers http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/011977.html

Camp A and Camp B http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021395.html

Abbreviations for Lyme-speak
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/020494.html

Making the most of your LLMD visit
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/020605.html

Success Stories http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/022173.html

Western Blot explanation: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/022767.html

The cause and spread of Lyme http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/032259.html

More info: http://www.ilads.org/

Lyme Wars http://www.wildernetwork.org/Lyme_Wars.html

Lyme Disease State Info http://www.lymeinfo.net/support.html

http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/matthewgoss/index.html

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Lymetutu

Posted by Brooklyn (Member # 7487) on :

Thank you, I did end up posting this on medical, hadn't seen it at first. That's two recommendations so far for Charles Jones, so I guess I will call him. I'll continue any other postings on medical and thanks so much for all the links. I also called IgeneX and found out that the tick doesn't have to be alive, just not dessicated which is why they want the moist cotton in there.

-Brooklyn

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Hey Brooklyn! Hope you got some answers. I'm headed over to Medical to see what's been posted. In light of what happened to Rosie O'Donnell's child, I guess the tests aren't for sure.

There are many strains of Lyme, and they can't test for all of them since many have not been identified.

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Lymetutu