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Original poster

Lyme disease

30 replies

looseleaf · 17/09/2010 14:21

Our gp thinks dd's rash is from lyme disease, does anyone else have experience of this or what can be confused with it eg just an infection from tick? she did have ticks on her the right length of time ago. She's on antibiotics (when not spitting them out) but also has very itchy bumps on her arms and legs as of yesterday (3 weeks /a month on from tick exposure if relevant) which gp hadn't seen before then dermatologist thought insect bites. I know he'd know more than i do, but i'm so puzzled as we've been at home for last 3 days and never had bites of any kind there nor had windows open/ any pets to stay which he asked us! Thanks for reading as somehow help just to share and maybe we'll know more from blood test in a week's time

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Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 14:24

ps ticks were in Scotland and we rang local health centre there who say lyme disease rare there.

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MadameCheese · 17/09/2010 14:28

Lyme disease rash is specific to bite area and looks like a bullseye. Where were the ticks on her body and how long did she have them on her?

BudaisintheZONE · 17/09/2010 14:33

Agree with MadameCheese. But if there is any risk of Lyme Disease they prefer to treat. I live in Hungary where there IS Lyme Disease and when we were in UK in summer I thought DS might have it. GP gave ABs readily. DS wouldn't take of course!

MadameCheese · 17/09/2010 14:35

I've been treated for it so feel for your DD

Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 14:52

Wow, thanks for replies as i was sure i'd find this under unanswered threads and had to search again! She had the typical bullseye rash first, bright red and spread outwards from little bump on her head (lymph node?). I don't even know for sure the tick was there but she found several tiny ones crawling on both of us so gave her bath straight after and removed one from her back but just didn't think to look in her hair

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MadameCheese · 17/09/2010 15:05

No probs, I've asked about this before for my DS :). FWIW I found one in DS's scalp recently, it's horrid isn't it? So yes she's on the right treatment then. Not sure about the other rashes being related though but if they persist I would ask to see a dermatologist again, good luck with the test results.

Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 15:11

Thanks MadameCheese! I was at least so glad dermatologist said antibiotics should still be affective as wasn't sure if 1 month after bite counted as early treatment as second stage of possible symptoms sounded quite worrying. dd (3) may be on slightly different antibiotics to you- i forget their name but she was too young for another type- but she says they are disgusting

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Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 15:13

ps did your blood test confirm lyme disease? Dermatologist said results can be hard to interprete or something but as long as medication works that's the main thing i think

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MadameCheese · 17/09/2010 15:22

You're not wrong, I didn't have a blood test or the rash but the doc thought the other symptoms I was displaying could be lyme disease. TBH they were probably being over-cautious :)

FranSanDisco · 17/09/2010 15:22

My mum got Lymes disease after a holiday in Scotland. She hadnt even seen a tick on her. She developed a rash which was later (much later) diagnosed as LD after blood tests. She is fine now after ABs. When she was at the hospital she said loads of Doctors were coming in to look at her as they were saying they'd never seen LD before - this is a London Hospital Grin.

belgo · 17/09/2010 15:25

The only person I know who's had lyme disease caught it somewhere in Scotland, I don't know where exactly. It is on the increase as deer get closer to the towns.

It needs to be treated as quickly as possible, make sure she doesn't spit out those antibiotics!

Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 15:25

we're dealing with this in London too and definitely feel like dd has something exciting as our gp said she'd never seen this. Fran i'm so encouraged your mum fine too after AB. Was in such a panic yesterday about this!

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Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 15:28

belgo we lost 5ml down dd's dress this morning but now hold up chocolate and say if she spits out won't get any! Wasn't sure what else to do but figured AB more important than teeth this week!

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Original poster
looseleaf · 17/09/2010 15:29

belgo we lost 5ml down dd's dress this morning but now hold up chocolate and say if she spits out won't get any! Wasn't sure what else to do but figured AB more important than teeth this week!

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BudaisintheZONE · 17/09/2010 16:15

Fair play to DD for taking the ABs! My DS is 9 and we had utter, utter trauma when he had them. I gave up in the end. After almost throwing both him and them across the kitchen!

belgo · 17/09/2010 16:18

yes bribery is the way to goSmile

jdavies · 18/09/2010 18:18

Goodness me, do medical people do any up to date training at all? I'm appalled that people are still being told Lyme is rare. No it isn't.

Please see www.bada-uk.org for some info, also /Lyme Disease Action site www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/

Please get yourself as informed as possible, keep a diary of some sort, take photos of any rashes. I'm not trying to scaremonger but it is important to be aware, especially when faced with ignorance! May save a lot of problems later.

If you need any advice, the volunteers at Bada uk will be able to help, I'm sure.

Jan

girlscout · 18/09/2010 18:37

Not to be flippant,and you are obviously doing all the right things,. but its a story line in bbc 's daytime "doctors"soap this week (I know vvery sad to know this )where a main character has the illness . Ic guess , it helps to oup the public awareness.

Original poster
looseleaf · 20/09/2010 14:38

thanks jdavies. Thanks goodness i did take a photo of the rash and would have taken more if i'd realised how useful it would be. It meant i was able to show it to a paediatric dermatologist as well as our gp. I will look as those links now and appreciate your advice and info, thanks so much. By the way dd seems to be exhausted but i think the antibiotics are doing something and she isn't itching her head which she was.

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Original poster
looseleaf · 20/09/2010 14:52

thanks jdavies. Thanks goodness i did take a photo of the rash and would have taken more if i'd realised how useful it would be. It meant i was able to show it to a paediatric dermatologist as well as our gp. I will look as those links now and appreciate your advice and info, thanks so much. By the way dd seems to be exhausted but i think the antibiotics are doing something and she isn't itching her head which she was.

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Original poster
looseleaf · 20/09/2010 21:18

i have now read up much more on the BADA site etc and the only question I can't answer if whether our gp has given dd a long enough course of antibiotics as I read length of treatment 3-4 weeks and if too short won't be effective. Dd's is 20ml a day for a week. The BADA says it can't give medical advice but I'd love to be sure dd's treatment is sufficient. Does anyone know please?? I would normally just trust the gp but i think am just so nervous after reading early treatment for right length time crucial.

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theyoungvisiter · 20/09/2010 21:26

I was treated for lyme disease and had abs for 3 weeks I think (trying to remember!)

I think it might be worth going back to the dr and asking why he's only prescribed for a week - could it be that he's prescribed for a week pending the blood results?

tempertemper · 20/09/2010 21:27

Hi looseleaf. I am a GP and just treated my first case of this last week, having been a dr 10yrs. (FWIW jdavies, it's not exactly a common condition in many parts of the UK. Its pretty bloody hard actually having a working knowledge of every single illness that you might one day see...what with being human and everything)

I recognised the rash but had to look up the up to date treatment guidelines (which were later confirmed by the microbiology dept who rang the blood test result through). Guidelines are for 2 weeks antibiotics for just the rash, 4 weeks if joint aching too.

Hope this helps.

theyoungvisiter · 20/09/2010 21:31

I was the first case my GP had seen (and he's in his... 40s?) I think it's definitely more common in some areas than others.

I was particularly exciting because I was pregnant at the time of being bitten and also had a chronic rash [preens] (ie it didn't disappear after the usual period but just kept growing for several months)

Original poster
looseleaf · 21/09/2010 16:36

thanks so much and tempertemper that's very nice to have the guidelines. I've been in touch with Lyme Disease Awareness since posted who have been extremely helpful and told me dd's antibiotic Erythromycin not suitable for the disease and also that the Health Protection agency recommends doses at twice standard level and for at least 2 weeks. Even more intense treatment benefits some patients. Amoxicillin was recommended for children instead.

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