Lyme disease following toddler tick bite

[Indigopearl]

Has anyone had any experience of having a young child with Lyme disease? Two weeks ago my 20 month old was bitten by a tick under the arm. When I saw it I tried to remove it but the head parts were still left so I took him to a & e. They removed the head but said that becuase he did not have a rash they would not prescribe antibiotics. Also he said the tick was small and didn't look like it had fed.

2 days prior to me noticing the tick until today he has had a temperature on and off, been eating less and has been very up and down in mood.

When I went to a&e I said to the doctor about the temperature but he thought it was just another bug as his tonsils looked inflamed. He also said the temperature came on too early for it to have been caused by the tick.

I would really be happier getting antibiotics as a precautionary measure but I have begged 2 gps at my practice and they have said no as the antibiotic course is long and think he just has a viral illness.

What do others think? At this stage I am just tempted to get some from an online pharmacy.

No way should you give a toddler antibiotics that you acquire on the internet! Incredibly dangerous and irresponsible.

Monitor. Go back if symptoms persist, and ask GP for a Lyme Disease blood test.

We’re you in an area with deer?

Yes we have deer in our garden and a neighbour has had Lyme Disease. I understand the blood tests are extremely unreliable.

Does he now have a rash?

I would buy them from a reputable pharmacy and give them according to the nice dosing guidelines for his age.

Did you keep the tick? You can send them off to be tested which is much more reliable.

If not, I'd be tempted to ring the GP and plead. But the temperature doesn't correlate with lymes based on your timings.

No bullseye rash. Initially he had a small rash which the doctor said was a localised reaction. Looking online though it seems that not all people get the bullseye rash.

@October2020

Did you keep the tick? You can send them off to be tested which is much more reliable.

If not, I'd be tempted to ring the GP and plead. But the temperature doesn't correlate with lymes based on your timings.

No we lost the tick unfortunately. When would you say the temperature should develop?

If it helps at all my dd had two ticks a couple of of years apart. No Lyme disease. We also have deer around.

You're really jumping the gun here. It might not be Lyme, and giving your child antibiotics that he doesn't need and isn't prescribed is reckless and dangerous and downright stupid. Don't do that, just keep on at the GP if you really think it's Lyme

Ok I am just worried as he really does not seem right and other countries seem to give antibiotics as a precautionary measure whether there is a rash or not. 2 weeks seem like a long while for a viral illness and it seems odd he is so up and down with a fever one day but not the next.

Thanks for the reassurance Bryony. I was wondering if anyone has had a LO with Lyme disease and what symptoms I should look out for. Also has anyone had Lyme disease without the bullseye rash?

Only 1 in 3 bites with Lyme's has a bullseye rash. It winds me up when medical staff discount its possibility based on the rash. It's not hard to learn.

OP I'd recommend joining a Lyme's FB group and asking on there or contacting a Lyme's charity. They may be able to point you towards some info to give your GP to get some antibiotics.

I know it's hard when you're worried, but for goodness' sake, don't get antibiotics from the internet! That's so irresponsible. My child had Lyme's, and the AB course is long and not easy on them. They were bitten, then developed a high fever, headache and exhaustion 9/10 days later - it was the sickest they've ever been and it got to the point they couldn't walk for very long. After the same amount of time, the bite area started going red, then expanded each day until it was a large bullseye rash. If you're concerned, go back to the GP.

Just to add, we found two ticks on my DC. One where the tick was small and looked like it hadn't fed, the other tick obviously had as it had ballooned up in size. It was that one that gave her Lyme's as the rash started at that spot.

My DS had a bullseye rash without any sign of a tick and has just finished a long course of antibiotics.
3 x 5ml of foul tasting antibiotics 3 different times a day for 21 days! It has been so traumatic and hard for us all.
I understand your worry but I wouldn't want to go through this again unless absolutely necessary.

If my children had antibiotics everytime they had a tick bite it would be nearly constant.
You need to monitor and follow medical advice.

Have you got a special tick remover OP? (for next time [sad[ )

I hate ticks.

@1starwars2

If my children had antibiotics everytime they had a tick bite it would be nearly constant. You need to monitor and follow medical advice.

Agree, the vast majority of tick bites do not cause Lyme disease. Definitely get a tick remover for next time

Yes we have bought one now. Thanks for sharing your experience Gecko. Can I ask how you DC is now? I hope they made a good recovery.

This is the tick we removed. It is about 3mm in size.

Thankfully, she is completely fine now Indigopearl. Hope your son feels better soon.