lyme disease rash

[afarmgirl4253]

My daughter has a rash all over her body that looks like little to big circles. some are single and some overlap making a lacy apperence on the skin. an infectious disease dr told me 3 yrs ago that it was lyme and treated her with amox being she was 9 at the time. 6 months later rash appeared again in oct. than 6 mths later rash showed up again. both times she was treated again with antibiodics. in 2010 rash appeared in april and again was treated. well here we are june 2011 and the rash is back. my question is can this rash be chronic lyme disease? she is tired and has headaches everyday. the first time the rash appeared it took doctors a month and a half to begin treatment. i am very confused and would like some input from someone re: the rash and how it may look because it is all over her body. Thanks in advance for any helpful info on this subject.

[navyguitar]

OK

Let me know if the information makes logical sense. I look forward to your input.

Thanks

[ree427]

I agree about the dermatologist.

I wasn't able to bring up the quackwatch article...I will try again because I am curious

[navyguitar]

A dermatologist should be able to diagnose her. Did you read through the websites I posted in the other thread? I was wondering what you think about the quackwatch article. I know it is different from what is posted on Lyme boards, but all of the information is backed by real scientific studies. Just curious

[ree427]

I wonder if it would be possible to have a doctor biopsy the lesions?? It's worth checking in to. I guess my brain never stops thinking!

[JackieCalifornia]

Ree's questions are good ones.  Your description triggered a memory of something I read a while back, and so I searched online for "lacy rash" and found some photos.  It could be several things, but this might give you some ideas.  One thing that's possible is a viral infection caused by a virus called a parvovirus, but a doc would have to say.  It can have serious side effects in some people, so of course the best thing is to see the doc, and take a cell phone photo of the rash now so the doc will know what it looked like, in case it begins to clear by the time you see the doc.  Please don't worry yourself into a dither -- but do see a doc!  I'm not medically trained, but certainly understand your concern.  Let us know how your daughter does, okay?  Take care --

[ree427]

Just curious...Does the rash seem to respond to the antibiotic treatment or not? I would look at the entire symptom picture and whether or not it responded to antibiotic treatment because this could help guide the diagnosis. Also did your daughter actually test positive for Lyme 3 years ago? What prompted you see the infectious disease doctor? Was she bitten by a tick or were you just going off of the rash?

[navyguitar]

I think you were  misdiagnosed. It does not sound like lyme at all. Did you do a search for child eczema? You should see a dermatologist during the next flare up to get a proper diagnosis. When you find out the proper diagnosis, please post back here so others can realize there are other conditions.

Thank you

[ree427]

I just thought I would add that some other tick-borne illnesses cause rashes like bartonella, for example. It's possible your daughter has another infection besides Lyme. Just something to consider...

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry to hear about your daughter -- I'd suggest that you take some cell phone photos of the rash when it appears, so that you can show them to any doctors you might consult in the future.  Docs get really interested when they see photos.

Could it be ringworm?  Do take the photos and keep them, and also search online for 'circular rash' under images or photos and see if you can find one that looks similar.  Somebody posted here recently that what he thought was Lyme had turned out to be ringworm.

Going to the doctor is important, of course, and if you don't feel the current doc is paying attention, then I'd find another one.  Please let us know how your daughter does and what the diagnosis is, okay?  Take care --

[carrie235]

Hi there,

There are others on this forum who are WAY more experienced with Lyme than I am, but just from what I know, you definitely need to get your daughter to an LLMD (lyme literate md) asap I would say.  Don't wait.  Call asap because most llmd's are booked up, so time is of the essence.  Sure sounds like Lyme disease to me.  

Also, to my knowledge, Chronic lyme disease cannot just be treated with short course abx.  Mainstream doctors, including infectious disease doctors, don't believe in chronic lyme.  You have found your way to our forum though, so you can see firsthand through your daughter, that chronic lyme does exist.  She has the rash(es) to prove it...most of us never saw a rash or even realized that we were bit by a tick (in my case, I know the tick that got me).

Anyhow, you are smart to be doing your own research.  You can probably goggle your state and llmd and come up with some names.  I am sure there are people that will help you on this forum after they see your post.

Please keep us updated.

Carrie