-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
Hi Fiddler, IGeneX Lab in Calif will test ticks for Lyme & several co-infections. www.igenex.com/ticktest.htm I think the cost is $60 for each disease.
I don't have any numbers to back it up, but I've heard that the tick tests are no more reliable than tests for people.
That said, I would recommend that your friend see if her dr will treat to prevent the infection. It's very important that the dose be strong enough & long enough or the bacteria will hide out & the disease will flare up at some time in the future.
That's what happened to my grandson some years ago. He has an appt this morning with Dr J the Lyme Pediatrician in New Haven, CT.
Dr J is outstanding. The mother of one of his patients said: "Dr J recommends & prescribes 30 days antibiotics to children with a known tick attachment."
I'll be glad to e-mail contact info for your friend. If her dr would call his office, he or his staff will give his recommendions.
Print "Diag Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html It's 32 pages of excellent info by one of the best Lyme Literate Med Drs (LLMDs).
Last page: "Rationale for Treating Tick Bites" Read carefully, especially last paragraph - "An established infection by B.burgdorferi can have serious, long-standing or permanent, and painful medical consequences, and be expensive to treat. Since the likelihood of harm arising from prophylactically applied spirochetal antibiotics is low, and since treatment is inexpensive and painless, it follows that the risk benefit ratio favors tick bite prophylaxis."
The age & weight of the child would determine treatment. page: 16 Antibiotic Choices Amoxicillin - Children: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses
My pharmacist did the math for me. A 35 lb child would need about 800 mg per day.
This is a stronger dose than the typical prescription, but LLMDs have found that it is necessary with this complex bacteria.
Also, antibiotics(abx) kill good bacteria in the system along with the bad bacteria. The good bacteria must be replenished with Acidophilus to keep the body in balance!!
In "Diag Hints...Guidelines", he discusses acidophilus on pages 24 & 29.
Always be sure to have 2 hours between abx & acidoph - before & after - or it won't have a chance to work. Candida, a systemic yeast infection, will develop. Much better to prevent it than to have to treat.
Go to www.ilads.org Click "Basic Info" on the left Print both pages. Very important facts that everyone should read!!
Your friend should decide which dr would be most receptive to new info on Lyme disease. Take copies of both these articles ("Diag Hints..." & "Basic Info") & see if the child can be treated according to Dr J's recommendations.
Keep in touch & let us know what happens.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Just keep in mind that ticks carry hundreds of different bacteria. There are 300 strains of borreliosis {LYME}...The tests do NOT test for all of the above.
So...if the test says "Negative"...you may still become ill. [I did] For me, the testing was a waste of money.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Fiddler
Dont trust test results-- To many variables can scue results eather way--Jay
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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