Would you insist on anti-b for ticks as a precautionary?

[Footloosee]

DC was on a school trip yest and ended up with 2 ticks on their leg. The doctor surgery removed both yesterday after school. They said no need for antibiotics, only if area gets read, inflamed etc. However I met someone today who was very poorly with lymes disease and he said that I should perhaps push for the antibiotics as a precaution? Not sure what to do.

Meant to read precaution!!!!

They may not be necessary. I had a friend who had to have a tick removed, told to go back for antibiotics if any issues. She had no issues.

Antibiotic resistance is a huge worry so no, unless they became unwell or the area became hot, red etc then I wouldn’t request antibiotics.

How old is DD? Will she be able to tell you if she feels flu-ey do you think?

I would - Lymes is an awful disease.

Yes, a teenager, they can definitely tell me. Its just the person I met today had Lyme disease and doesn't remember even getting a tick..

Yes and I did with my Son. It's a long course - two- three weeks but happened to a friend who insisted and was v glad she had as when blood test came back she did have lymes disease. Saying that my DS Rick had been in situ for a few days ticked into the fold of his ear and was huge. I may have felt differently if had removed st straight away

I believe LD is antibiotics resistant anyways? There is no cure

Ignore me. Apparently if you catch it earlier enough the prognosis is good.

No. The risk is fairly low if ticks are removed promptly and correctly.

Yes I would really insist if it was in a high lymes area. I would even go to another gp if the 1st refused. It makes a massive difference getting antibiotics early.
It is a horrible disease and can be very hard to diagnose. The test doesn't always work and you don't always get the red ring

You can't insist on anti biotics. They are only prescribed when necessary.

Absolutely not. If doctors gave antibiotics to everyone with tick bites they would be giving them out all the time.
The majority of tick bites are nothing to worry about. Just make sure the whole tick is removed and then keep an eye for a red bulls eye mark or any flu- like symptoms.

To reassure you, we live in a high tick area and often remove them from ourselves. Only once have I known someone have a red bullseye mark and she went straight to the doctors and got antibiotics no problem. If we had gone to the doctors all the other times we would have been taking up a lot of precious doctors appointments.

You don't need the ring to get antibiotics - if you start to feel poorly they will also look to give them

That's in good time without being wasteful

Of course not! You watch for any sign, but usually there is none. I say that as someone who caught Lyme disease (in France), got antibiotics because I had symptoms a week later, and that was the end of it.

I'm surprised your GP surgery removed them for you tbh.

No! Tick bites are very common with n parts of the country- just keep an eye out for symptoms.

I know I’m being very alarmist here, but my friend’s daughter is now blind as a result of Lymes, and has become totally unable to lead a normal life. Another person I know has permanent heart damage. For the sake of one course of antibiotics I would do it,