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Is It Safe To Start Antibiotics For Lyme Disease Without Confirming It?
Question: Hi My 6 yo daughter tested positive for lyme (initial blood test) I removed three ticks from her head in the summer. I live in Suffolk County NY. No bulls eye, no symptoms since. Had new bloods drawn yesterday for Western Blot. My question is, should I wait to start antibiotics until I get 2nd results and also how long does Western Blot results take? Her doctor doesn't want to start meds until we are positive.
Brief Answer:
When no symptoms - no drugs please
Detailed Answer:
Hi...I understand your concern and also the fact that you have removed 3 ticks from her scalp.
But the latest recommendations about Lyme disease state that, no anti Lyme disease drugs need be given. Many symptoms of Lyme disease overlap with many other simpler diseases... So it's important that we establish the diagnosis before initiating the treatment.
You should definitely wait for the western blot test results.
Western blot — is usually done to confirm the diagnosis. In this two-step approach, the Western blot detects antibodies to several proteins of B. burgdorferi. It can take few hours to 2-3 days depending on the laboratory.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
When no symptoms - no drugs please
Detailed Answer:
Hi...I understand your concern and also the fact that you have removed 3 ticks from her scalp.
But the latest recommendations about Lyme disease state that, no anti Lyme disease drugs need be given. Many symptoms of Lyme disease overlap with many other simpler diseases... So it's important that we establish the diagnosis before initiating the treatment.
You should definitely wait for the western blot test results.
Western blot — is usually done to confirm the diagnosis. In this two-step approach, the Western blot detects antibodies to several proteins of B. burgdorferi. It can take few hours to 2-3 days depending on the laboratory.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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