Lyme disease

[looseleaf]

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

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.

dd's blood test for lyme disease was positive we heard last night. Last time i posted she was actually taking an antibiotic i found out from Lyme Disease Aware isn't suitable. So thank goodness now on amoxicillin. For 2 weeks at double strength dose which i'm so keen to confirm is enough as hard to know from dd if she has any aches to suggest longer treatment needed. The bite was about 5 weeks ago now. Our GP has been great but is in new territory and doesn't know

Hi looseleaf

Lifted this from the guidelines I used:

Children:
■12 years of age or older, give 14 days of either amoxicillin (50 mg/kg per day in three divided doses) or doxycycline (100 mg twice-daily).
■Less than 12 years of age, give 14 days of amoxicillin (50 mg/kg per day in three divided doses).
■If both doxycycline and amoxicillin are contra-indicated give 14 days of cefuroxime axetil (30 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) unless there is a history of anaphylaxis with a penicillin.
■When erythema migrans is indistinguishable from bacterial cellulitis, give 14 days of either co-amoxiclav, cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin with flucloxacillin in age-appropriate doses.

Looks like DD is on the right regime. Hope all is well (this is from the doctor info on patient.co.uk, which is what we use on the "mentor" system when we give patient info leaflets, or to track down up to date evidence based info. There is more info on there if you need it)

Hope she is better soon.

Hi looseleaf - only just saw your post on the other thread - and looks like things are sorted now. My DD was given 3 weeks of high dose amoxicillin and is totally fine now.

We're actually in Scotland and I found the GPs to be right on the case here.. but they obviously will see more cases and have the experience

Hope your DD is well now

thanks oricella. In fact dd didn't get better even on 24 days antibiotics and seeing a specialist who thinks she still has Lyme and is putting her on for 3 months to my slight distress i must say. I'm now worried she has a co-infection as apparently these are the norm and not the exception and she hasn't been tested for one.