Hi Kimmy,
I am so sorry to hear about your son, this tick and his spleen from the accident. If this is the first time he has been exposed to ticks or vectors carrying lyme bacteria's then you may be lucky and get any doctor to put him on antibiotics right away.
What you could do right now which I feel is very important is to photograph the rash using a ruler or coin next to the rash and keep on taking pictures of the rash as it changes, you may need it later on for documentation (just to be on the safe side).
The next thing you need to do is contact IgeneX Labs for testing. They are the most accurate lab we have in the U.S. You can e-mail or call them. Their website is:
www.igeneX.com
Below I cut and paste our expert named Ticker's post to newbies:
Many people who have Lyme were first diagnosed with other illnesses including Fibromyalgia, CFS, MS, ALS, and Lupus. Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
When Lyme disease is a possibility, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and under treat. Besides Lyme ticks can transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. It is estimated that 60% of people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested by a Lyme lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA. If you would like a doctor recommendation, you can email me at [email protected]
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease (2nd edition)" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and Dr. Joseph Burrascano's treatment guidelines at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols.
I don't know if Ticker is available to read e-mails. If you can tell us where you are located, perhaps one of us could recommend a LLMD (lyme literate medical doctor) for your son.
Please try and stay calm, yes, easier said than done. Many people are in remission from lyme including myself and have stayed well for years. I know children who have been well for years as well.
I hope this helps, Denise