New to Lymes...questions

[cjm83]

So today I noticed that my daughter, just about 8, had the classic bulls eye rash on the back of her leg.  The only reason I even associated this with Lyme was because of researching a nasty bug bite I had earlier in the summer and recalling what I had read.  She did not have any other symptoms, just the rash.  

I brought her in, and the doctor took one look and said Lyme.  He did not run the blood tests or anything, but I assume that the rash in itself is pretty telling.  She is allergic to  amoxicillin so he have us a RX for doxycycline, even though she isn't quite to the age of 8 yet.  

Well the dr made a strange statement to me of "normally I would treat Lyme for 3 weeks with antibiotics.  I'll only give you guys a week on it though because I think you came in early enough after noticing it", I assume since she had no other symptoms.  

I'm confused about #1 if the week of antibiotic will be enough, and #2 will this be something that could spur up later in life or once you have it treated, you will be ok?

[JackieCalifornia]

Thanks for letting us know how it's going -- stay in touch -- we'll keep a good thought for your daughter and for you.  Sounds like you did a good thing by talking to the regular dr.

[cjm83]

Thank goodness this worked out

I called her normal Dr.  and asked about the medication time frame, and also about the lack of the two pills getting into her.

Her normal dr listened to the dictation of the urgent care dr.  She decided to switch her off the Doxy, (she stated it is for children over age 8 and she is age 7, 8 in a month so I don't see the biggie but whatever).  She now put her on Ceftin, and extended the period to 14 full days, starting today.  I feel much better now :0)  Thank you all for your help!

[patsy10]

It could be from any recent tick bit.  The rash can appear for up to about 4 weeks after the bite.

Early treatment can cure lyme but it is no guarantee.  The best chance of cure is early treatment.

I searched "early lyme disease treatment" and everything I read said 3 weeks.  You may want to do some research to take the info. to your doctor.

[cjm83]

Thanks Jackie

The reason I had questioned whether it could have come from the first tick that happened over a month ago was because neither me nor my daughter saw the second tick (the one where the rash on her leg was)  Like I said if you look real close you could see the bite, but never did see the little bugger.   My ASSUMPTION is that it happened Monday night, because that was the only time I remember her being in long grass.  It's so funny too because I immediately yelled at her when she stepped in the long grass on the edge of the cornfield and told her "THERE COULD BE TICKS IN THERE".  Two days later..here we go with the bulls eye! lol

Course I supposed it could have been from this weekend too.  We did have a fire this weekend and the kids were running around in the yard wresting with each other on Saturday night.  We had just mowed the law, but we have a cornfield right behind the back yard....hmmmm I just don't know.

I'm thankful I caught it too! Had she had pants on I wouldn't have.  She was in her leo for gymnastics and I saw it when we were getting in the car.  I'm thankful for that for sure!!!

I wish I had though to grab a camera.  I don't know if this is normal or not but you can hardly even see it now.  When I saw it yesterday it was BRIGHT, so we went to her gymnastics class for the hour it is, and then I immediately took her in. Thankfully I did so the doctor could see it for himself.  Maybe because she started on the antibiotics it is fading already?  

[JackieCalifornia]

Ooops!  It's in 'Health Pages' in the upper right of this page.

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry to hear about your daughter's tick encounter, but she is very fortunate that you are so observant and careful.

I am not sure, but I think that the bullseye rash appears at the site of the bite.  However, a bite on the scalp might not be noticed because of hair covering the area.  Also, many many bites never produce a bullseye rash:  mine didn't.

If you can, take a quick photo of the bullseye rash.  MDs sometimes believe photos when they don't believe their patients.  A cell phone camera would do.  You might find the photos come in handy later.  I erased my bugbite cell photos and then wished I hadn't.

I hope your pediatrician is as educated as the other MD who is treating your daughter.  There is a lot of political fighting over Lyme.  If it were my daughter, and if your pediatrician isn't on board with the antibiotics, then I'd go back to the Lyme MD and try to get him to extend the treatment period.  Tell him the initial bite was longer ago that you originally remembered, and that may inspire him to add a couple of weeks to the medications.

Your comparison of Lyme to chicken pox/shingles is an interesting one.  There are a few differences:  chicken pox is caused by a virus, and Lyme by bacteria, so Lyme can be killed by antibiotics but chicken pox can't.  The trick with Lyme is treating soon enough (as it sounds you are) and long enough (as you are already focussed on).  Lyme is a tricky one, but it can be cured if treated early enough and with the right drugs for long enough.  I would not be afraid to be pushy with the MD.  If you need more information to take to the doctor about treatment, look at ILADS [dot] org for Dr Burrascano's guidelines, and someone here has recently mentioned looking at the 'treatment guidelines' (or something like that) located at the button in the upper corner of this page (I think:  I can't see it right now myself.....so maybe I'm wrong about its location. Maybe someone else here can point it out.)

Let us know how it goes.  Best wishes.

[cjm83]

Sorry, one more question....

About, I'd say a month and a half ago, she has a tick right on the top of her head.  It had bit and needed to be pulled out.  She was at her Grandma's at the time so I was told about it afterwards.  

I had taken my daughter into urgent care in the evening with this rash because I wouldn't have time to get her to her regular Dr. Today or Tomorrow since I work and I did not want to leave it through the weekend.  When I asked the Dr if this rash could be from the tick she had on her head, he said no.

It might sound like a silly question since this rash had a distinct bite spot, but is it possible that maybe it came from the previous tick?

I know the internet can be a scary place when doing your own research, which is why I like being able to ask first hand questions rather than just reading on the medical sites.  From what I have been reading I question if this urgent care dr really knows much about Lyme.

[cjm83]

Thanks for the replies.  I am going to have to call her regular dr anyway because they put her in the Doxy, but apparently that doesn't come in a liquid for kids so this is her first experience with pills.  Two of them have wound up broke open all over the kitchen floor.  So I think tomorrow I better call her normal Dr, talk to her about getting more of them since the two broke, and asking if in her opinion the week is long enough.

As far as your response patsy, so this means as long as they treat her properly she won't have any more problems?  I'm sorry but I really know nothing about Lymes.  Is it sort of like chicken pox/shingles where it can lay dormant in the body and all of a sudden flare?  Or once you treat it then it goes away?  (from what I read of other people on here it doesn't seem to go away) Say hypothetically they extend her to three weeks on the pills, should I assume she is fine, or should I from here on out when she gets sick let doctors know "at this point in time she had Lyme disease"   ?????

[Chatterbox58]

Yes, Patsy is correct to early yet to tell for Lyme, in about 4 more weeks, they probably can test for it.  I believe I was bit in August, real sick in October and November, did the blood work came back positive.  Went on Doxy also, helped however was only on for four weeks.  Approx one year later bad, bad, stiff neck pain, went through therapy.  I never did go back on antibiotics, however not feeling the greatest.  Try and have the Dr. keep her on for a few months would be my suggestion.

[patsy10]

Forgot to add that if it is not adequately treated in the early stage then it can come back later.

[patsy10]

I am not a doctor but I personally do not think it is enough.  There are treatment guidelines in the health pages and I believe it is 3 weeks minimum.

The bullseye rash is diagnostic in itself.  It takes several weeks for the body to form antibodies so the test would most likely be negative at this point.