Lyme disease is an illness that can occur after a deer tick bites a child. The California Lyme Disease Association says the illness is most common in boys ages 5 to 19. Although it also occurs in adults, 25 percent of Lyme disease cases occur in children. Symptoms of Lyme disease include rash, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, numbness in limbs and paralysis on one side of the face. With proper treatment, the majority of children with Lyme disease recover completely. Children's Hospital Boston, however, says that 10 percent of people with Lyme disease will need to be hospitalized for treatment.
Medications
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics help clear Lyme disease from the body and lower the risk of developing complications. Treatment in children is similar to treatment in adults; however, the antibiotic doxycycline is not used in children under the age of 8. The antibiotics amoxicillin and cefuroxime are used in younger children.
Duration of Treatment
Antibiotics are taken for 14 to 21 days, but the Mayo Clinic says that studies have shown a 10- to 14-day course of antibiotics can be equally effective. In cases where the disease has progressed, intravenous antibiotics are administered for 14 to 28 days.
Antibiotic Side Effects
Common side effects of oral antibiotics include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Allergic reactions to antibiotics can occur. Mild allergic reactions can cause rashes and itching. In some children, anaphylactic shock can occur. Symptoms of life-threatening anaphylactic shock include difficulty breathing, swollen tongue, vomiting, fainting and dizziness. Intravenous antibiotics can lower white blood cell count and cause diarrhea and other infections that are resistant to antibiotics.
Warning
The Food and Drug Administration has warned those with Lyme disease to avoid Bismacine. Bismacine is a nonpharmaceutical injectable compound prescribed by alternative medical practitioners to treat Lyme disease. High levels of the metal bismuth is found in Biscamine, and injecting Biscamine can lead to bismuth poisoning. Biscamine is not approved by the FDA. Side effects of injectable Biscamine can cause heart and kidney failure.
Prognosis
Lyme disease responds well to antibiotics. But after treatment some children may experience post-Lyme disease syndrome, characterized by muscle aches and fatigue. Treating post-Lyme disease syndrome is controversial, according to the New York Times Health Guide. Many doctors will not prescribe antibiotics for longer than 30 days. Long-term antibiotic use can cause a child to become allergic to antibiotics or develop an antibiotic-resistant infection called clostridium difficile. The New York Times Health Guide says more research is needed regarding post-Lyme disease syndrome, but treatment focuses on symptom management.
