Re: flu symptoms and when to get a lyme test

[Guest guest]

>

> Well, now that I've had lyme for almost a year - I'm starting to freak out a

bit about the possibility of my kids getting it. I'm actually even considering

moving out of state or even out of the country because of it. We are living in

an area where Lyme is becoming more common.

>

> My 7yo now has flu symptoms for the last three days. I really don't think it

could be lyme in this case as we have a lot of snow still on the ground and only

a couple of days where temps were above freezing.

The ticks can survive this, but of course infection risk is very low at this

time unless you start messing with the litter underneath the snow.

> I guess my question is after what length of time would it be appropriate in

general to get a lyme test, and what type would you get?

IMHO the most reliable test in general is a good Western Blot like those from

IgeneX in the US. These serologic tests can be used 3-6 weeks after infection,

while the flu symptoms can come within days after a tick bite.

tests are a lottery IMHO, especially if you don't know which test / lab is

used.

> My lyme started with flu-like symptoms last year, no evidence of a bite or

rash, and it took 8 weeks to get diagnosed (when an Igenex WB came back

positive). My first lyme test, an ELISA, was taken a week after symptoms

started and came back negative. I've heard that a week is not long enough for

the antibodies to build up.

that's correct. The minimum is about 3 weeks, but it depends on the type of test

and other factors. If you test early, there is bigger chance for a

false-negative outcome.

[Guest guest]

so sit tight and wait and hopefully symptoms will subside and it is just a

seasonal flu, and if not get a lyme test after three weeks?

would you do anything in the meantime, i.e., start an antibiotic? (the results

themselves take three weeks to come back).

[Guest guest]

>

> so sit tight and wait and hopefully symptoms will subside and it is just a

seasonal flu, and if not get a lyme test after three weeks?

yes; if the only symptom is flu I would watch and wait.

if an EM appears, or other telltale infection signs like Bells Palsy,

nerve/joint problems (those can appear early) it's another story of course.

> would you do anything in the meantime, i.e., start an antibiotic? (the results

themselves take three weeks to come back).

Taking an antibiotic early can suppress the immune reaction AND causes extra

risk of false-negatives for serologic tests.

However, this is a controversial issue, in some countries (e.g. Germany) people

can get a preemptive ABX shot after they get a tick bite. I'm not aware of any

research that proves that this is effective (there is a lot of research, but it

is badly designed so it really doesn't prove anything).

Buhner recommends taking Astragalus in the early stage, from what I remember

(I'm a chronic case so all of this doesn't apply to me - for later stages

Astragalus is NOT good). Maybe you could look into that?