My family and I recently visited my parents in northern Wisconsin.
We got home tonight and of course I had to check the family.
My wife and I found 3 small deer ticks on our son! How long does it take to get the ticks infection if there is one?
I took the ticks out and there was no blood and they were super small.
Do I try to get my LLMD or family doctor to give my some some abx for a few weeks to be safe?
I am freaking. You all know how this has affected yourselves and family. I could not live with myself knowing my son would follow down my same road
THANKS Fuel
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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James1979
Unregistered
posted
Oh no!!! Make sure you save the ticks! Put them in a small jar with a moist ball of cotton. I like to use empty supplement bottles for that (and you know we always have a ton of empty bottles!)
3 ticks is very bad. I don't know what the Lyme rate in ticks is in WI, but there was a study done in IL this year that says that 27% of the ticks have Lyme. AND that doesn't even count for the co-infections.
Since it is a young child, I don't know what the standard procedure is for abx treatment. I really hope someone can chime in and give you a good response.
Is there any way you can get to your LLMD soon? I wouldn't trust a GP, unless it was your only choice.
Ticks can transmit Lyme disease in any amount of time - even in less than 4 hours. All of the sources that say it takes 24-48 hours before the disease is transmitted, are full of crap. I personally got Lyme this year from a tick that was attached somewhere between 2 and 12 hours... and possibly less.
I wish you the best! This is truly horrible.
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Ugggggg! So sorry to hear this!
I am not a doctor, so this is my opinion only.
If it were MY child, I'd have them treated. With ONE tick bite they would be treated.
Just so you know... Their skin is thinner than adults. If a tick is attached it can "do its thing" sooner than it could with an adult.
Wisconsin has a high rate of people infected there. NOT good news.
Dr. J says less than 10% of children get a rash, so don't wait for one to decide to do something. Get while the getting is good. Prevention is the best medicine.
Check out the "Treat a Bite" section on this site for the current protocols.
posted
I want to add: IF you happen to have extra funds available for extraneous procedures, you might want to send the ticks to a lab to get them tested for borellia. I know that the tests aren't perfect, plus you aren't even looking at all the possible co-infections, but if you see a positive then at least you'll have more confidence when and if you give your son abx.
Some people might disagree with this, and that's fine. I was just throwing out the idea for brainstorming.
But at least you should save the ticks in case you have to test for exotic co-infections in the future. The ticks will live for months enclosed like that, as long as they have a moist cotton ball.
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Here is what the experts say...
"Decide to treat based on the type of tick, whether it came from an endemic area, how it was removed, and length of attachment (anecdotally, as little as four hours of attachment can transmit pathogens).
The risk of transmission is greater if the tick is engorged, or of it was removed improperly allowing the tick's contents to spill into the bite wound. High-risk bites are treated as follows (remember the possibility of co-infection!):
1) Adults: Oral therapy for 28 days.
2) Pregnancy: Amoxicillin 1000 mg q6h for 6 weeks. Test for Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia. Alternative: Cefuroxime axetil 1000 mg q12h for 6 weeks.
posted
3 ticks. without question i would personaly treat my son.
-------------------- 3 months Doxy 8 months of Tetra 7 months of Biaxin/Plaq. 4 months Doxy/Biaxin/Plaq. 5 months Biaxin/Plaq. Back on Doxy/Biax/Plaq On the road to recovery. Trying to make people Lyme Aware....... Posts: 289 | From R.I. | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
I was looking deeper into this, and it looks like the ticks were in the larva stage?
They are very small, like as small as the tip of a pen.
Anyone know more about this?
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Yes, larva stage. They can be born with infections passed to them by the mommy tick.
It really doesn't matter if the tick has pink poka-dot ears and a purple tail. It lives in the dirt, sucks blood from a variety of sources and can pass on known and unknown infections.
BTW- no girl or boy ticks at that stage and it is almost impossible to determine the species unless you have a microscope and a LOT of experience.
posted
Well, I guess I won't be sleeping tonight...
Definitely a prayer night for me.
Tomorrow I will call my LLMD and see what he will do for my boy. Probably Doxy for 28 days?
I think I am going to consider moving.
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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t9im
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25489
posted
Hi Fuel:
I agree with tincup on preventative measures.
Ignoring the controversy on how long it takes a tick to transmit LB (Dr. J tells a story of 1 hour to a young child) studies have indicated erlichia can be transmitted in 15 minutes.
Dr. S (this is from memory so %'s are not 100% accurate) at least for CT ticks picked up on a tick drag in 2010. 30+% had LB, 20+% had babs, bart and erlichosis BUT 80% had microplasma stuff.
At least take heart as there are studies which indicate for rodents it does take time for the spirochete to pass to the midgut for transmission.
-------------------- Tim Posts: 1111 | From Glastonbury, CT | Registered: Apr 2010
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
Treat NOW NOW NOW
Every hour and day that goes by you lose ground.
Not trying to freak you out - but it is that big of a deal
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
So sorry to hear this. I would call your llmd and she what they say. Better to be safe than sorry years down the road. A short course of abx is nothing compared to what would happen if you did not treat now.
Posts: 323 | From Michigan | Registered: Sep 2006
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James1979
Unregistered
posted
One thing to keep in mind: usually doxy isn't prescribed to children because it permanently stains their teeth. This rule is followed as long as the child's teeth are still developing. If the teeth are already full-grown, then the stain is not permanent, but cleanable by a dentist.
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Our mainstream pediatrician who is ok with our non immunized beliefs calls us back and says lets do 21 days of an amoxi type abx! (Son is allergic to Amox)
Now to me this was amazing.. I don't know too many pediatricians in my area that would Rx abx without a blood test or rash confirming Lyme
Praise God, now lets hope everything is fine
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
What a relief Fuel! I think God heard and answered your prayers Get him started on those antibiotics and keep a close eye on him.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Oh I am so sorry this happened to your son this weekend I think treating is definitely the way to go. I am going to email you to find out who your ped. is btw You know my boys did fine on their antibiotics, hopefully your son will do the same.
Posts: 76 | From IL | Registered: Oct 2010
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calls us back and says lets do 21 days of an amoxi type abx! (Son is allergic to Amox)
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