Topic: Congenital Lyme In Children- Do you immunize?
ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
My sister has a newly diagnosed 5 year old with congenital Lyme. IgeneX positive both IgG and IgM. Treatment is still undecided.
Do you immunize if treatment is started?
Do you immunize if treatment is delayed until more symptoms?
Is there damage to the developing brain if you wait to treat?
This situation is so hard. With me, my teenage boys we knew they had to be treated. One so so sick and one going to college in the fall.
Thanks everyone for their input!
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
My daughter(11) is due for Booster shots that are mandatory for New York State Schools.
Since she's under abx for lyme, our llmd gave notice to the school that she is NOT to have any vaccinations at this time.
I agree! I would hold off any booster/vaccination until lyme treatment is finished and NO symptoms for a period of time.
Posts: 501 | From Hudson Ticky Valley, NY | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Four ( top) LLMDs told us not to vaccinate our dd as well. I believe partially because Lymies have compromised immune systems and cannot fight off any additional pathogens or toxins. Makes sense.
Posts: 118 | From Here | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
I'm not a doctor, but I think the risk of a 5 year old is small.
If it was a baby, that was one thing.
I think vaccinations are needed...but they should be spaced out, given individually, and only given if the child is feeling healthy.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
| IP: Logged |
ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
Thanks everyone! You are very kind to post. My sister is probably reading this today.
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
I think the possibility that it could bring on illness is just too much of a risk.
I know that my daughter got much sicker after a round of injections. A really good friend of mine whose child was just diagnosed got much sicker after injections also.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I agree, don't vaccinate while he's sick. If it's absolutely necessary, space out the vaccinates as much as possible.
But please, once he's recovered for a year or two, catch him up on the missed immunizations.
Posts: 340 | From san francisco, ca | Registered: Nov 2010
| IP: Logged |
tick battler
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 21113
posted
NO WAY. My boys became much sicker than my daughter and they got most of their immunizations. I didn't realize that they had lyme at the time. They have the hyperactivity/sensory/brain issues which my daughter never had.
With my daughter (my youngest) I stopped after giving her the measles part of the MMR and saw her lose her coordination for a day. It was horrible to see this obvious reaction.
I have not give a vaccination since. The more that I read, the more convinced I am that they are too much for a Lyme-weakened immune system. There are many posts here about people who had huge declines after tetanus boosters, etc.
tickbattler
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
My 6 month old baby is due for another shot since reading this i became worried, my wife has lyme when she gave birth and was not treated. But we still do not see any lyme symptoms with the baby should we take the next shot?
-------------------- Posts: 215 | From California | Registered: Sep 2011
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
I personally believe that vaccines are helpful and protective.
If you suspect your child might have Lyme you might consider starting treatment before vaccinating or at least consult with an LLMD. It seems like some Lyme patients here do not do well with vaccines, their immune systems are already overwhelmed/overburdened with the infection.
I've had several vaccines including Tdap, flu, Hib, and pneumonia. Thankfully none caused any worsening of my Lyme symptoms.
Kramberry, take the time to make an informed decision. If you have any concerns, talk with your doctor. Most would be glad to help.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
There is a girl here, Tricia, whose lyme became active after she had a gardisil vaccine.
Dr. K has said that most autistic kids have Lyme. There have been many connections made between vaccines and autism. It makes me wonder if there's a connection there. I wonder if the babies have congenital Lyme but aren't symptomatic. Then they get a vaccine and bamm! autism. It's just my thoughts. I'm not a dr. But I sure wouldn't take a chance.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
But will i also be risking my childs immunity by not getting shots to prevent the specific disease prevented by the shots?
-------------------- Posts: 215 | From California | Registered: Sep 2011
| IP: Logged |
blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
We did selective vaccination against the biggest threats under the direction of our LLMD. Since his immune system is compromised, there was also a greater risk of disease without the shots.
In California, Whooping cough was making a comeback and killed 10 infants. So, that was one that we did get for him. No polio, no hep b, no hep a, no chickenpox and partial pnuemunicocal.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
If I could go back in time, I would NEVER have vaccinated my baby. I did all vaccinations, her immune system got so bad that until today, we are fighting consequences.
She got so many allergies, that made our life a hell. It is more than clear that asthma and eczema are stronger and worse for vaccinated kids than unvaccinated kids. Most unvaccinated kids never develop such diseases.
Everytime she catches any disease (like chicken pox, colds), she will develop autoimmunity reactions. And the inflammation will go forever, much longer than for healthy kids.
No way giving vaccines HELPED the immune system, in her case. It made her immune system a mess, weak.
If you don't vaccinate, you WILL risk your child for certain diseases, for sure. But it is a sort of balance. Do kids really need to be vaccinated with things like mumps /measles/ rubella at baby age?? Or Hep B?
Vaccines do sacrifice some (or many) kids to the 'greater' good.
I guess selective vaccination, and DELAYED vaccination, as much as possible, would be some of my choices, had I not vaccinated her before.
Now I'm afraid of vaccines and will never give her any booster anymore. She will decide on her own later, after she is an adult.
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
If you don't vaccinate, you WILL risk your child for certain diseases, for sure.
I just have to disagree with this. If you start looking at vaccine/disease rates over the decades, you will find that vaccines do not lower your risk for disease. Time and again, disease rates have dropped BEFORE the vaccine is introduced. The U.S. is LAST among industrialized nations for infant mortality, so clearly, what we are doing in obstetrics and pediatrics is not working.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you ask me, yes. If you want details, links, etc, let me know. I can provide them - tomorrow. It's late. I'm heading to bed.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm not sure I can offer much advice here. I only will tell you my experience.
My daughters both were vacinated as everyone else is. I didn't know better at the time. Not sure what I would have done if I had.
Neither has had any violent reaction to any of the shots. Of course their immune systems are stronger than mine.
My llmd never told me not to vaccinate, only in the case of the flu shot. Definately NOT he said. I can vouche for that one, as I was forced by my employer on one occasion to get a flu shot and I immediatly got very sick. I soiled myself trying to get to the restroom which was across the hall from my office and had to go home. I was sick for several days. I've had no flu shots since. I don't give her flu shots (youngest dd at 11 yo) either.
-------------------- One day at a time Posts: 409 | From TX | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
When a person has an illness, like a cold for example, it is not the time to immunize. With Lyme disease and Co, the immune system is compromised.
Immunizing can cause further complications for the immune system.
For example, even though I'm an adult, and many adults are very conscientious about getting flu vaccine, my doctor does not recommend it for me, as a lyme patient.
An alternative might be homeopathics. There are homeopathic flu remedies that can be taken seasonally to prevent getting the flu. Maybe there are homeopathics available to prevent some of the illnesses that children are usually vaccinated for.
a possible website is www.elixirs.com Homeopathy for Health You can contact the owner and ask about childhood immunizations alternatives, if available.
Best wishes.
Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Have any of you seen children suffering and dying from vaccine preventable illnesses? I've personally seen this with measles. So sad! So scary. Many families in that community lost children to the disease. And to think a shot might have saved their lives.
Many of us are lucky not to remember the horrors of diphtheria, polio, tetanus, measles, etc. With vaccines, these deadly infections are just a distant memory of our great grandparents.
Remember, these infections are just a plane ride away from the comfort of our american homes.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic