Hi Hillary,
I'm a little late, but welcome to LymeNet.Went back & read what you said earlier about your son's symptoms & how long he's probably
had Lyme.
Amoxicillin is the antibiotic that is usually given to young children, but it's very important that the treatment be strong enough and long enough.
Go to "Diag Hints & Treat Guidelines..." at www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html
Under "Antibiotic Choices" (about page 16)
Dr Burrascano's recommendation for children:
Amoxicillin: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses.
Would have to know your child's weight to calculate amt of amoxicillin recommended.
About the length of treatment -
page 18 or 19: Treatment Categories.
Early Disseminated disease (less than 1 yr):
Adults: oral therapy until no active disease for 4 weeks (4-6 months typical).
Some are now recommending treatment until NO symptoms for 6 to 8 weeks, just to be sure.
Children: oral therapy with duration based upon clinical response.
"Basic Info" at www.ilads.org
#10 begins: There has never been a study that proves that 30 days of antibiotics cures Lyme disease.
The typical dose of amoxicillin may appear to take care of his symptoms.
BUT - If treatment is not adequate, the surviving bacteria will go dormant for a time & then will flare up again in the future - maybe weeks, maybe years later.
Kinda like the chicken pox virus going dormant & flaring up years later as shingles.
He also needs to take acidophilus (Health Food Store) to replenish the good bacteria in his system!!
Be sure to have 2 hours between antibiotics & acidophilus - before & after - or it won't be able to work correctly.
The earlier the treatment, the easier it is to deal with the disease, & children have a good prognosis when treatment is adequate.
Compared to many children on LymeNet, he is still fairly early in the disease.
I recommend going to Seeking a Dr to help you find a Lyme Literate Med Dr (LLMD).
Put your location in the title.
A LLMD will also check him for co-infections,
like Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella.
Dr B discusses these in his Guidelines.
Please make sure Miles is given adequate treatment ASAP. This could be one of the most important decisions you make for him.
[This message has been edited by cbb (edited 04 November 2004).]