Is this a Lymes rash?

Back story, we went camping April 27-30th. We were in a campground the majority of the time and in a state park. We had zero bug repellent b/c I was lazy and I'm pregnant. I did try to check for ticks in my son's hair.

Last Sunday, my 3yr old was extremely tired after church. He was abnormally sleepy and had not had a lack of sleep. That afternoon, he developed a fever and no appetite. This lasted about 72 hours. Since then, he's resumed his normal eating habits, no fever, etc. I did notice he had a bump at the nape of his neck in the last two weeks. I figured it was a mosquito bite or something. He has been sleeping a little later than usual (Getting up between 7-7:30 a.m. instead of the usual 6:20-6:45am). He also has been taking very long naps and I've been waking him from them 2+hours. I assumed it was the heat and outdoor play.

Yesterday afternoon I noticed this rash. It doesn't look like a bulls-eye to me, but I kept an eye on it and it was still there when he went to bed. This morning, its almost gone, but I want to be overly precautious in the unfortunate event he somehow may have been bitten.

Does this look like it could be a Lymes rash and would it disappear so quickly? Should I insist he be tested? I have a call in to his pediatrician, but I suspect my location and the limited cases of Lymes here will work against me and they will say its nothing since it went away in less than 24 hours.

Can someone tell me how to upload a photo?

Hi boondocks95 -

Sorry you are dealing with this potential issue but real glad you found us here. We'll do what we can to help.

Please use a 3rd party hosting site (imagr, for instance) for images and then you can post the link to them here.

GIven his exposure, symptoms and possible EM, I'd go ahead and start him on some antimicrobial herbs and detoxing while you look for an pediatric LLMD to partner with. Please post a new thread with "Looking for pediatric LLMD in _____" and include the metro area(s) near you.

Hopefully some parents who are treating children will be along to offer their thoughts - it is a little different ballgame for kids. Also, would you please indicate "child" in the subject title of this thread so that it will grab their attention a little better.

Also, please read the "New to Lyme?" thread at the top of the page - it has invaluable information in it that will help you determine next steps, understand what the LLMD needs from you, issues with testing options, treatment, etc.

And please continue to ask questions - we'll do what we can to help.

-p

I would love to see the photo.

But remember that 3 yr olds can go through growth spurts where they need more sleep. And teething - can definitely cause a quick fever and no appetite.

Just a few "it also could be" ideas.

It is allergy time and the rash could be a pollen rash. Where is the rash in relation to the bump you found on his head? And is the rash near the bump at the nape of his neck?

If you can't deal with figuring out the photo sharing site, please email me the picture and I can post it for you here. Just click on the blue envelope under my screen name on the left.

The 2nd one is a dead giveaway, in my book (and a good photo, too). I'm sorry but that really looks like an EM rash. Please mark the edges w/ a permanent marker so you can track its growth.

-p

Sorry to say, but that is a bull's eye rash and nothing else makes that but lyme.

Mine looked very similar and mine did not grow. Mine just lasted for 3 weeks. No itching, no other symptoms.

If this were my babe, I would get him to a pedi LLMD asap. Or at the very least a doctor that is familiar with lyme and get some antibiotics in him.

Here are hyperlinks to the photos: photobucket.com/share/links?u=http%3A%2F%2Fs1383.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2FBoondocks952%2Fmedia%2FIMG_20170516_202743984_zps5uvmyy6o.jpg.html%3Fsort%3D3%26o%3D1

photobucket.com/share/links?u=http%3A%2F%2Fs1383.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2FBoondocks952%2Fmedia%2FIMG_20170517_071941303_zps3pudvsll.jpg.html%3Fsort%3D3%26o%3D0
See, for me, I see the bulls eye clearer in the first picture - oh well. The second picture makes me suspicious of Bartonella though - see all those "red squiggly lines' on her thigh? That could be vasculitis type of symptoms starting. So do keep this in mind as you search out help.

You will need to find an ILADS trained LLMD in your area to treat her properly. If you need help with this, just let us know.

It's just hard for me to grasp that a rash would disappear in less than 24 hours ! I'm in East TN. I doubt anyone here specializes in it. Can his pediatrician not just test him? I honestly don't want to give ABX unless I'm certain he has it. We avoid antibiotics like the plague.

The testing that the pediatrician would do is super unreliable!

My GP tested me and I was negative. I had to go for further testing and the results of that lab took 3 weeks. I was on antibiotics while awaiting those test results that came back positive.

Time to heal is quickly at the initial onset. The initial onset was that bull's eye rash.

Waiting could be something you really regret later.

A round of antibiotics right away, has saved 3 personal friends. I truly believe this!!

Thanks for your help. Is it normal for the rash to be nearly gone that quickly?

I agree with Pirouette - very little is "normal" with these infections, and it's very common for rashes to come and go, although they don't always.

Hyper link to photo: photobucket.com/share/links?u=http%3A%2F%2Fs1383.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2FBoondocks952%2Fmedia%2FIMG_20170517_135440030_zpsarkmk64b.jpg.html%3Fsort%3D1%26o%3D0

It's definitely fading, so I"m really glad you got the pictures! Do NOT let any doctor tell you that it wouldn't have faded if it was from Lyme (a common thing I hear). The fact that he had one is significant enough to warrant treatment.

Believe me, as someone that grew up with these infections, the possible damage from abx use is no where near the level of misery these infections can bring on if they are not treated properly. I do not mean to detract from the significance of the need for protecting the GI system, only that we do have to keep things in perspective. An ongoing infection(s) being left untreated definitely have more potential to do more damage than the abx would, especially if the infection is caught early and able to be treated with minimal abx (for these infections).

So no possibility it's something else ? I have checked and I can't find an llmd to even call in my area.

His pediatrician called me back and want him there first thing in the morning. I know you all say the tests aren't accurate but I need to digest all of this. I am not one to "trust doctors," indefinitely, but I have to have some faith in them. What should I push for ? Both tests? Does insurance cover these ?

It doesn't have a typical bullseye center so what do I say if they tell me it's not a bullseye?