posted
My little girl just recieved her labs: IgM P41 (PRESENT) IgM P23 (PRESENT) IgG (no bands present) Vit D (low) Glucose (low) WBC Esterace (trace "abnormal")
#1 DO THE PRESENT BANDS INDICATE IF THE DISEASE IS IN: EARLY OR LATE STAGE? (According to the Pediatric Rheum he said it was "indicative of early exposure within the last month" He also said b/c the IgG is negative and IgM is positive that means "early presence"...Keep in mind, he also said that these tests were probably inconclusive and most likely false positives)
#2 ACCORDING TO THESE BANDS WHAT KIND OF ANTIBIOTIC SHOULD I PERSONALLY GET STARTED ON AND FOR HOW LONG, DOSAGE, ETC??? Unfortunately, since they didn't see this as a "real concern" and just a "false positive" they didn't even write her a script for ANY ANTIBIOTICS...just a referral to an infectious disease specialist to repeat the same test!!!I do however, have a script for Tetracycline (500mg 2x day)and Doxycycline (100mg 2x day) they gave to me for my rash around my mouth (another mysterious symptom my daughter/s and I share) I want to give her something until I get her into see a LLMD that can take over as scary symptoms persist.
Thank you in advance for your advice, help and support. I have personally talked to so many people who are so incredibly wonderful, patient and kind. Without you all, I don't know how would find the encouragement otherwise.
Posts: 166 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
on line #2 I meant to say "WHAT KIND OF ANTIBIOTIC SHOULD I GET "HER" STARTED ON
Posts: 166 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
How old is she?
I think age 8 is the cut off for children for Doxycycline and Tetracycline, but please don't quote me on that!
By cut off, I mean that children of that age or younger should NOT take Doxycycline or Tetracycline!!!!
I think for Lyme, children usually take Amoxicillin, sometimes with Zithromax. I am not sure on the dosages.
When did she start getting these symptoms or have a tick bite? (note that the tick might not have been noticed). If it was awhile ago, I would not start her on antibiotics yourself...I would take her to an LLMD that will treat children.
Because unless she just got this, starting the antibiotics right away is not critical, and it is best done under an LLMD's care and evaluation. They might want to test her for coinfections too, so she might not want to be on the antibiotics for the testing, etc. Though I would say being on meds is not a deal-breaker for testing. I have testd positive for things while on meds.
Only testing IgM positive and not IgG does not mean that she had to be infected very recently. The criteria for IgG are more difficult to meet, so it's easier to get a false negative on IgG.
If I were you, I'd post at Seeking a Doctor on this site to try to find someone to evaluate her.
I have heard of children getting rashes around their mouth when they eat certain foods. I don't know if that is necessarily a Lyme symptom, though other symptoms could be, so I'm not saying she doesn't have Lyme. With those test results, I would think Lyme is a strong possibility.
Good luck!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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emla999/Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12606
posted
You might want to try the "Lyme Aid Parents" Yahoo group. That group is for parents who have children with Lyme disease.
Also, Tetracycline, Doxycycline and Minocycline are usually not prescribe to very young children. But I believe those antibiotics are given to children that are above the age of 12 or so. For children under the age of 10 or 12 an LLMD would probably prescribe Amoxicillin or Azithromycin.
I don't really know what antibiotics are used or what dosages are used for young children though. But in ADULTS the typical dosages for the antibiotics listed bellow are as follows:
Doxycycline.....200-300mg twice per day.
Amoxicillin....1,000-2,000mg every eight hours. Depending upon blood levels.
Azithromycin.....250-600mg daily.
***I am sure that dosages for young children would be less than the dosages listed above.
Posts: 1223 | From U.S.A | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Mystery - As you know my son is also 12 yrs old.
I have a feeling the dose might also be dependant on weight too and he is 125 Lbs.
I understand you might feel you would like to start treating her but I have some reservations about you doing that.
What if you start to give her the Doxy and she has a terrible reaction of some sort?
Reactions can show up right away or sometimes take a week or more to appear.
It is my understanding of the W.B. that chance of her result being a false positive is almost nill so DO NOT let anyone tell you she does not have Lyme. She has a positive test and symptoms!!!
What about seeing the I.D. doctor just so you could get her started on antibiotics under a M.D.'s supervision and then hopefully you can get her to a LLMD ASAP while she is under treatment?
Posts: 448 | From minnesota | Registered: Feb 2010
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I agree don't let them tell you she it is a false positive. And I would say she has most likely had
it a long time. Although many children require a challenge to get a good antibody response you have enough.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
First of all, let me say thank you to everyone who has given me such wonderful advice and opinions, I truly value them all. I have thought it over and you are right. I want to wait, but I am also scared that the longer it takes to get in the more damage (possibly irreversable) can occur. I hope to God that they refer her to someone knowledgeable and quickly. I don't however, hold out much hope as the Ped Rheum doesn't even really think that she has it. Please pray for us and if you know of anyone that knows of a really good ID doc please let me know...again, thanks, Cassie
Posts: 166 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Hi Cassie,
You don't need an ID doctor, you need an LLMD. If you treat it while she's not really, really sick as many of us get who go untreated for too long, it will be easier.
I had my daughter tested because I recognized the early symptoms in her because I had had them and took THREE YEARS to get diagnosed. Because she got diagnosed early, she was able to have a relatively easy treatment and get well within 8 months.
Do not put off treatment! Go to Seeking a Doctor and someone will send you a doctor referral.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I cannot understand why she is not ALREADY on antibiotics!! My son got a prescription the VERY same day we got his positive test result back!!
There is no excuse for this! I would call her doctor first thing Monday morning and demand a prescription! her regular doctor should have given you this immediately upon receiving the postive test results.
Posts: 448 | From minnesota | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
Also if her regular doctor decides to start her on Amoxicillin instead of Doxycycline ask if they would also give you Probenecid.
Derek's regular doctor did not think of this but when our LLMD suggested it his doctor agreed it would be a good idea.
It is a liquid that helps keep the Amoxicillin levels higher in the bloodstream.
You can google it for more information on it.
And I am only suggesting using her regular doctor for NOW just until you can get her to a LLMD.
Posts: 448 | From minnesota | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
My 3 year old tested similar to your child, and she was started on 3 weeks of amox immediately. Subsequent to that, I had her on 3 weeks of Omnicef with Zithromax worked in 3 times per week. I stopped after 3 weeks, because she started to get loose stool, and I didn't want to take any chances.
Is she showing any symptoms of lyme, other than the blood work? You mention only a rash...
Posts: 14 | From Northern VA | Registered: Nov 2009
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