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My daughter was bit on her back while camping a month ago by some (flying bug) I hit/squashed it off of her. Days later she formed a "bulls-eye" rash. It went away and I didn't think much of it. Then she started with a rashe with round semi raised blisters on her hands and feet. I took her to the ER they told me she had hand mouth, foot disease. (I didn't buy it) Anyhow, a few days later she started to itch, especially when she woke in the morning. Her hands and feet are HOT and itchy and raw red. I took her back to the ER and they stuck with the HFM. I then took her to a new dr. and they dx with Lyme Disease. So a month later she is now on antibiotic. She is very fatigued. I want to know what the rash is on her hands and feet. Any insight is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Posts: 15 | From PA | Registered: Jul 2007
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
I googled for images of "hand foot mouth disease" and "Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever"
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Thank you Carol, I don't think it's HFM. I was leaning toward Rocky Mountain spotted fever but I am not sure. It has changed form, from oval shaped to red hot blanket rash on her palms and feet. She has also started a red pimply looking rash on her stomach and now it's going down her leg. I am so miffed and worried. I am in Pennsylvania near Hershey so I am thinking of checking at the Med center for a specialist. I also am calling her new doctor who diagnosed this on Monday to see if she knows and to also tell her about this rash on the stomach/leg.
Posts: 15 | From PA | Registered: Jul 2007
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Forget any "specialists" at any large hospital or clinic. They will NOT help you. They will dx her with anything and everything other than Lyme.
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The more research I do the more it seems to be RMSF. Now what?? Is amoxicillin the right choice? I need to find a specialist for her to go to!! She has been on antibiotic for 4 days now...
Posts: 15 | From PA | Registered: Jul 2007
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
A bullseye rash would be Borrelia Bergdorferi (classic lyme.)
It sounds like you also think the other rash she has is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
I think it would be a really good idea to post in the seeking doctor section, and take your daughter to a good LLMD (lyme literate medical doctor!)
Even if you have to travel to one, it would be worth the time and money!
Infectious Disease specialists (ID docs) don't have enough training to treat a complex tick borne illness. Their practices are often governed and limited by politics and insurance companies.
They'll only give her 10 days to three weeks of amoxicillin. This is a good choice for starters, but is not likely to address the entire infection, and probably won't get rid of it entirely.
With a knowledgeable LLMD your daughter will get well soon. And she won't end up with a lingering condidtion, like so many of us who were not diagnosed or treated properly or on time.
Wishing you all the best!
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be initiated immediately when there is a suspicion of Rocky Mountain spotted fever on the basis of clinical and epidemiologic findings. Treatment should not be delayed until laboratory confirmation is obtained.
If the patient is treated within the first 4-5 days of the disease, fever generally subsides within 24-72 hours after treatment with an appropriate antibiotic (usually in the tetracycline class). In fact, failure to respond to a tetracycline antibiotic argues against a diagnosis of RMSF. Severely ill patients may require longer periods before their fever resolves, especially if they have experienced damage to multiple organ systems. Preventive therapy in non-ill patients who have had recent tick bites is not recommended and may, in fact, only delay the onset of disease.
Doxycycline (100 mg every 12 hours for adults or 4 mg/kg body weight per day in two divided doses for children under 45 kg [100 lbs]) is the drug of choice for patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Therapy is continued for at least 3 days after fever subsides and until there is unequivocal evidence of clinical improvement, generally for a minimum total course of 5 to 10 days. Severe or complicated disease may require longer treatment courses. Doxycycline is also the preferred drug for patients with ehrlichiosis, another tick-transmitted infection with signs and symptoms that may resemble Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Tetracyclines are usually not the preferred drug for use in pregnant women because of risks associated with malformation of teeth and bones in unborn children. Chloramphenicol is an alternative drug that can be used to treat Rocky Mountain spotted fever; however, this drug may be associated with a wide range of side effects and may require careful monitoring of blood levels.
Date last reviewed: 05/20/2005
Doxy is usually not given to children.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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