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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this could be lymes disease

44 replies

celeryeater · 06/12/2018 08:22

My daughter came home from nursery about three weeks ago with a very nasty insect bite on her leg. It was a big red swollen patch with a blood blister in the middle. It got quite nasty a week later oozing pus as well so I took her to the doctors thinking she was picking it and it was infected. We were given a cream and when the bite died down a bit, formed a scab I stopped applying the cream. We put a plaster on it to stop her picking it. I removed the plaster last night and a bullseye rash has formed around it. Is this lymes disease? I had a fear from the beginning this was a tick bite. I have rung the doctors this morning and they've put me on a triage list and asked me to send a picture.

To think this could be lymes disease
OP posts:
CallMeRachel · 06/12/2018 08:42

She'll likely need antibiotics.

Mark round the edges of the widest parts of the bullseye rash with a pen, they'll want to know how fast the infection is spreading.

Might not be Lyme disease, tic bites can cause a nasty reaction with or without Lyme.

Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 09:06

I'm worried they won't take it seriously. She's only two and a half and behind on speech so she can't really tell us how she is feeling.

OP posts:
Boomboomboomboom · 06/12/2018 09:15

Please get her a GP appointment. It may or may not be lyme but she can be treated with a long course of antibs (2-3 weeks) and blood tested if necessary.
The risks of undetected lyme are NOT something you want to take and I speak with the experience of someone whose child is still suffering 18 months on.
Is your nursery in a woodland area?

Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 09:19

I know, I tried to get her an appointment this morning but the receptionist was clueless and just put me on a triage list. I said it was a bullseye around the insect bite and she asked me what I thought had bitten her. I said tick, that's why I'm worried it's a bullseye and then she asked me if the rash was all over....? Hmm
The nursery is in the grounds of a big park, lots of long grass etc

OP posts:
Boomboomboomboom · 06/12/2018 09:24

Explain to the triage nurse that it is likely she has been bitten by a tick and MUST be seen by a GP to prescribe antibs.
Location of nursery makes it very likely to be a tick and lyme disease but not inevitable. Early treatment is much more successful than late treatment.

Boomboomboomboom · 06/12/2018 09:25

Hope that she's seen today.

Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 09:33

I did say we'll she's going to need antibiotics and the receptionist just said they will look at the photo I email over and then decide if they need to see her or not but either way they will let me know this morning. If I don't get an appointment or a call back I'll be ringing them back.

OP posts:
Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 09:34

This is one from just now. Looks even more like a bullseye now.

To think this could be lymes disease
OP posts:
popcornwizard · 06/12/2018 09:40

I'd draw round it and go straight to minor injuries/walk in if you have one nearby while you're waiting for the GP to reply.

Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 09:46

They just rang me and said it's not conclusive what they think it is so are going to see her at 11.30

OP posts:
Jeanclaudejackety · 06/12/2018 10:25

Hope it goes OK. If you're not happy go to a walk in at a bigger hospital I always found them really good

Lougle · 06/12/2018 10:47

It will be good to get the doctor's opinion. The bullseye rash is concerning, but in her favour is the fact that we're outside the usual tick season (March-October) and that there wasn't a tick attached to her (they generally hang on until they are removed, because they corkscrew their way into the skin).

However, the weather has been milder than normal for this time of year, and ticks become active at 8°C according to the tick bite site, so it's not an exact science. The risk of Lyme infection is higher if the tick is satiated (it has had a good suck on the blood) or the tick isn't removed until the next day.

CallMeRachel · 06/12/2018 17:12

It's still tic season - I'm in Scotland and pulled one out of my pups ear yesterday

How did you get on at the docs?

Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 19:50

The doctor said it likely wasn't lymes because she didn't have any other symptoms - not tired etc. But gave us two weeks of antibiotics just to be on the safe side. So I'm happy with that.

OP posts:
RoseGoldEagle · 06/12/2018 20:56

NICE guidelines say that GPs should presume a rash like your DDs is Lyme disease, whether there are any other symptoms or not, and prescribe a course of antibiotics. Your GP has done this, but it's important it the right antibiotic and given for long enough (so 21 days is the guideline for your DDs age). I have linked to the NICE guidelines here www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng95/chapter/recommendations#management

I know about this subject through work, and it’s alarming the number of cases that are missed or misdiagnosed. It’s great your GP has put your DD on antibiotics but I’d make sure it’s the recommended one, and also show your GP these guidelines to get the recommended number of weeks of treatment. Lyme disease is really treatable if caught early (which you have!) but if you don’t treat for long enough it might not completely clear and can cause long term problems. Sorry not trying to scare you just that I’ve worked with Lyme patients with horrible issues who are incredibly and understandably bitter about not receiving the right treatment to start with.

Millie2013 · 06/12/2018 21:17

I had Lyme disease and had no symptoms on presentation, apart from the rash. I’m pleased she’s got the antibiotics, OP, you did the right thing

Original poster
celeryeater · 06/12/2018 22:43

Wow, thanks for the link to NICE guidelines. I can't remember what the name of the antibiotic we have is - I'll look tomorrow as currently under a baby but I will ring the doctors surgery tomorrow to query the 21 days dosage. He definitely said two weeks to me. Although when I went to get the antibiotics they gave it to me in a bottle and said this is only enough for 10 days so when you are getting low come back and we'll give you another bottle. She said they can't give both to me now because the shelf life is only a week. So I guess I could give for 21 days anyway with the amount I'll have. I'll try talking to the doctors first though.

OP posts:
Original poster
celeryeater · 07/12/2018 05:58

She's on clarithromycin, so not amoxicillin like advised. Unless the gp has new information we don't know about. I guess I will be ringing back today.

OP posts:
claraschu · 07/12/2018 06:15

Please do go back to the doctor and make sure that they are taking this very seriously. Lyme disease is not at all well understood in the UK, and lots of doctors haven't got their heads around what a serious and complex disease it is. It can be very hard to diagnose and very hard to treat, if not treated immediately and effectively. Here is a link to some more information.
www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-lyme/faq/

Longtalljosie · 07/12/2018 06:17

Bloody hell. Go STRAIGHT back for a second opinion. That looks like a textbook Lymes infection. My friend’s daughter has been so so sick for over a year with it. Make a fuss....

Original poster
celeryeater · 07/12/2018 07:04

"Doxycycline, amoxicillin [unlicensed indication] or cefuroxime (as cefuroxime axetil) are the antibacterials of choice for early Lyme disease or Lyme arthritis. If these antibacterials are contra-indicated, a macrolide (e.g. clarithromycin) can be used for early Lyme disease."

This was on the NICE website too so seems her antibiotics are okay. Would like to know why amoxicillin wasn't considered though. She has a peanut and raw egg allergy so this could be the case? Going to ring the doctors when they open and query everything.

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Longtalljosie · 07/12/2018 08:07

That’s good - but the course is unlikely to be nearly long enough.

Longtalljosie · 07/12/2018 08:07

Or, potentially, strong enough...

Original poster
celeryeater · 07/12/2018 08:11

I'm on the list for a call back for someone to tell me why this was given and NICE guidelines aren't being followed.

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ladybirdees · 07/12/2018 08:16

Please do make sure she gets the right treatment. I got lymes last year and it's so important to treat it early with the right drugs. From my experience the gps were not that clued up one totally dismissing it as an ant bite. I ended up with debilitating tiredness and muscle spasms in my back and neck that I'm still trying to work through a year later. I think better training for GPs is needed and the new vaccine can't come quick enough!

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