Advice - my 4 year old got a tick bite

Hi guys,

My 4 year old got a tick bite yesterday and my LLND suggested I send the tick to IGenix for testing. I'm wondering what you all would do:

- get only the BB test for $68
- add on either Babesia or Bart for $68 each

I know it's possible to get infected with a co-infection without also getting infected with BB, but I don't think it's common.

I don't want to put a price on my child's health, but I also don't want to spend $200 if the $68 test would be sufficient.

For reference, the tick was not embedded when he went to bed Saturday night (must have been crawling around on him somewhere), but was when he got up Sunday morning. It was also not engorged when we pulled it out.

I'm also seeing if I can get him some antibiotics while we're waiting for the test, but I'm not sure his pediatrician will prescribe for just a bite.

Thanks for your reply, Girlie.

The test is an Igenix test of the tick. I can test the tick for Lyme only for $68, or Lyme and Babesia for $136 or Lyme, Babesia & Bart for $204.

I'm just wondering what you all would do - whether you'd test for Lyme only, or for all 3. I don't think it's common to get infected with Babesia and / or Bart without Lyme, but it IS possible. I don't have a lot of extra money and don't want to spend unnecessary money, but I also don't want to miss something.

I have an appointment with his pediatrician this afternoon to see about getting antibiotics, but she already gave me the "the tick needs to be embedded longer to transmit Lyme", so I'm not sure if she'll prescribe them. I have printouts from ILADS to show her saying this isn't true, and that early treatment is key, so I'm hoping I can convince her to do 4 weeks of antibiotics.

curious too about treating the tick bite for a friend who is going through this. they got on antibiotics and herbals right away- and are wondering if they stop the antibiotics at 2 weeks but continue the herbal treatment (for tick bite)for a total of 8 weeks if this is sufficient-- or if they need to do the full 30 days of antibiotics even though they are also doing herbals? Is two weeks of antibiotics ( started right away) and herbals (started right away) for 8 weeks sufficient? O r should they try to do the full 30 days of antibiotics too?

For your kid I personally wouldn't even bother with the test and would just treat just in case. I guess 30 days of amoxicillin plus herbals and probiotics.
for herbals I personally like the Jernigan ones best- borellogen and anti tox.