posted
Wait for what?? A two year old to describe their problems. Treat the kid and you do no harm, don't treat and he could have a very bad problem.
The key is to treat ASAP. Make sure your friend understands this, her kids health is at stake.
Posts: 559 | From Cary, NC | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I'm not a dr, but based on our family's experience with LD (especially my grandson) - Not only should they treat, but also be sure treatment is adequate.
If the dose is not strong enough per day & the treatment is not long enough, then nothing will be accomplished.
page 32-33: "Rationale for Treating Tick Bites" Pay special attention to #1 and last paragraph!!
page 17: "Antibiotic Choices & Doses" Doxy should not be given to young children(teeth). Amoxicillin: Children: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses
My pharmacist did the math for me. 35 lb child needs about 800mg per day.
page 19: "Treatment categories" Tick Bites - no signs or symptoms Young children: oral therapy for 28 days
The earlier the treatment, the better the results, but ONLY if treatment is strong enough & long enough. Too little antibiotic (abx) will allow some of the spirochetes to survive, hide out, & the illness will flare up at some time in the future. Then the tick bite will have been forgotten & Lyme will not be considered as a possible diagnosis.
You only get one chance to treat early. If the opportunity is missed, it won't come around again.
It's much better to err on the side of caution rather than risk a young child's health.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
When I was bit my Dr. told me to wait a month and come back for a test. In the meantime watch for a bullseye rash, joint pains & flu like symptoms.
I watched for those symptoms but didn't get them. My ear and jaw hurt but I thought that was because I slept on them funny. I was confused and forgetful but I thought that was because I was overworked.
Then BAM 3 1/2 weeks after the bite 1 side of my face was completely paralyzed (Bell's Palsy). I could barley talk or eat and could not blink my eye. Ear & jaw pain got worse, shoulder hurt, numbness & stabbing pains started, confusion got worse...
It was too late. Now I'm on my 22nd month of antibiotics and I have been through a living hell. I would not wish this on anyone, especially a child. Get that child some antibiotics and the sooner the better. Once the symptoms appear it is too late.
In some parts of New England 70-80% of the ticks are infected with Lyme. Not very good odds when you are bit. hatsnscarfs
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Erin, did you read the responses to your post "Rash on 6 yr old"? I brought it back to the top.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Find a doctor that knows how to treat a child. Be persistent. You are the parent.
When your kid gets zits, will you let him/her take tetracycline?
Treat. Diarrhea is common with any antibiotic, so be there for your child when this frustrating symptom occurs. This is far less a symptom than you will deal with should the lyme take hold.
-------------------- Lymester Posts: 519 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I listened to that advice when my daughter was 2 1/2 and got bit and had the bullseye rash.
It is two years later and she is still on antibiotics because within a week she was terribly ill.
I believe that if she had received treatment right away she would not have gotten so ill or needed treatment for so long.
Don't miss this window of opportunity to treat it right away!
Posts: 441 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2004
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
You cannot wait! That is wrong advice! You must be treated for any known tick bite, save the tick, and be tested for co-infections. Keep the kids OUT OF THE woods and grass, protect and check them! I PM'd you Dr. J contact info.
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posted
Wow! A few years ago I ha to remove a tick that jumped off our cat and landed on her bald head! I got it out properly and within minutes. The Ped. told me as long as it was under 24 hours than nothing could be transmitted. Yikes!! Should I have her testd now 3 years later? Her only symptoms are constipation with encopresis and excema.
Posts: 6 | From MA | Registered: Mar 2007
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
If it was my kid I would treat now. the IDSA says no, but I will bet $100 if it was one of their kids they would treat it aggresively. The only reason they say not to treat is that abx use for such "possible infections" is not "politically correct" by IDSA current doctrine.
Did they get the tick sample? It can be sent out for PCR testing. Then they will know its status for sure.
Also on the 24 hour transmission..... Well MAYBE that might be right for lyme on a statitical basis but what about all the other crap a tick can carry. If it bites it has already anesthitized the site and maybe even if lyme is not present in the saliva, there certainly are other pathogens that can live there. It might also be that the number of orgamisms that have been transmissted are too small to be detected using the infection verification technique that was used in the studies. I wouldn't panic but I also wouldn't leave it either.
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
Treat immediately. Give appropriate dosages and give for the proper amount of time. It is a crime that we as parents have to seek a doctor out of state for treatment and appear obsessed and crazed to family and friends.
It is a crime that there is only one pediatrician who has experience and whom we can count on.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Treat doxy and flagyl now at least 6 weeks I would.
-------------------- 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.
quote:Originally posted by treepatrol: Treat doxy and flagyl now at least 6 weeks I would.
Would Tinidmax be easier on the stomach than the Flagyle?
Posts: 310 | From TN | Registered: Jan 2007
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
This post is originally from June 2006. I wonder what happened.
robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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