Can a tick bite transmit Lyme disease and rickettsia to my 4-year-old son?

Question

Hi doctor,

My son is 4 years old and was bitten by a tick a couple of months ago. He was interpreted with a rickettsia, which is a high-grade fever rash. He was asked to take a Josamycin antibiotic for two weeks. Then he was fine for a few weeks. However, today he has had a high-grade fever for the past 10 hours with knee pain for no reason. We suspect the tick bite may have transferred Lyme disease and rickettsia as a coinfection, and now Lyme disease took some months to appear. What is your suggestion, doctor?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Please do an IgG (immunoglobulin G) western blot test to confirm Lyme disease. The knee pain and fever may be a late manifestation of Lyme disease. Further management will depend on the reports. As of now, I suggest you can give (consult with a specialist doctor, talk with him or her and take medicines with their consent) tablet Paracetamol (dose as per the child's weight) twice a day for the knee pain.

Thank you.