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I found a Tick in DD's shoulder yesterday, And I have a question

MJN9510MJN9510 member
in Parenting

DD (she's 3 1/2) was at my moms house from friday night to saturday afternoon.  When she came home on sunday, I was changing her from her church clothes to play clothes and she was complaining that her shoulder hurt.  So, when I took her shirt off, I noticed a red and purple area with something black in the center. At first, it looked like a black mole or a piece of dried blood.  So, I touched it, to try to figure out what it was and I then noticed it had legs and was moving!  I yelled for DH and he said it looked like a tick.  It was 1/2 way into her shoulder and 1/2 way sticking out.  He got tweezers and pulled it out.  I called the nurse on call and they recommended we take her to the ER to be sure we got all of the tick out.  The er said it looked like all of the tick was out and just told us to watch her for flu like symptoms or a rash, or the area that is already red to get bigger.  If any of these happen, we should bring her back in.  They also told us to follow up with our Pedi today.  I put a call into the pedi this morning and I called again this afternoon and I havent gotten any calls back yet.  I did talk to my mom when we got home from the ER and she said DD had complained about her shoulder hurting all day saturday and mom noticed the black spot but had no idea what it was.  SO, that means this tick was in my daughters shoulder for at least 24 hours.  We really have no idea how long it was there. So, my question is, have any of you experienced this? Of course, my first thought is Lymes Disease or any other infection from it being in her body.  I was surprised the ER didnt prescribe an antibiotic, but I was freaked out by the whole thing and I really didnt even think to ask.  I am going to ask the Pedi, whenever they call back.  I am just so nervous and everything I have read or heard is saying to watch her for 2 weeks to a month because that is how long it might take before she would show signs if something is wrong.  I am really not trying to over react and she is probably just fine.  So, what do you all think? Would you be worried?

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Re: I found a Tick in DD's shoulder yesterday, And I have a question

  • RondackHikerRondackHiker member
    They sent you to the ER for a TICK BITE?!
    Wow.


    Do you know what kind of tick it was? If the tick was a deer tick, most doctors recommend antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease.


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  • minervacullenminervacullen member
    I used to go camping a lot as a kid. I can't even count how many times I had a tick bite. I never got Lyme disease or any other diseases. Just keep an eye out and try not to freak out.


    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
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  • MJN9510MJN9510 member

    I have no idea what kind of tick it was.  When DH got it out, he flushed it down the toilet before even thinking about it.  I asked what he did with it because I thought the ER might want to look at it to see what kind it was. Our main concern at first was to be sure we got all of the tick out, that part of it wasnt still in her shoulder.  I know Lyme Disease is rare but still, without knowing what kind of tick it was and knowing it was in her shoulder for at least 24 hours made me more concerned for infections.

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  • bumpuser1691848bumpuser1691848 member
    RondackHiker said:
    They sent you to the ER for a TICK BITE?! Wow. Do you know what kind of tick it was? If the tick was a deer tick, most doctors recommend antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease.
    Ditto.

    Just watch her and try not to freak. I'd also call the pedi again before they close just to make a point and have an appt first thing in the morning. How annoying on their part!
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    DD {6.13.10} & DS {5.19.12}
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  • MJN9510MJN9510 member
    OK. Pedi just called back. I told them there is a bright red and purple area right where the tick was and then redness around that about the size of a quarter.  They said she doesnt need to be seen unless she develops flu like symptoms or the red area gets larger.  They did not recommend antibiotics for precaution.  I dont know.  I will try not to worry I guess
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  • outnumberedoutnumbered member
    MJN9510 said:

    I have no idea what kind of tick it was.  When DH got it out, he flushed it down the toilet before even thinking about it.  I asked what he did with it because I thought the ER might want to look at it to see what kind it was. Our main concern at first was to be sure we got all of the tick out, that part of it wasnt still in her shoulder.  I know Lyme Disease is rare but still, without knowing what kind of tick it was and knowing it was in her shoulder for at least 24 hours made me more concerned for infections.

    Depending on your location Lyme disease may not be that rare.  I live in the Northeast and have known children and adults with Lyme.  Untreated it can turn into a chronic condition.  Now that it is spring we do a tick check every night.  My son had a tick that we think was in for 24 hours.  The doctor had his blood checked for Lyme.  The antibiotics are intense so we did not want to treat him unless it was necessary.
    The boston globe ran an interesting series on Lyme

    Smiley: April '05 Rocky: May '06 Tex: July '09
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  • SimpleJaneSimpleJane member
    edited April 2014
    My oldest got lymes from a tick bite, and I didn't even see the tick. It can cause serious and lasting issues if you don't catch it in time. The symptoms can be almost nonexistent for months. I would be sure to follow up with the pediatricians office and I would want antibiotics. If they say it's not necessary that's fine, but Google the symptoms and watch her closely for them. Lymes is no joke.

    Edit to add, I live in the North East and I know a lot of people who have contracted lymes. One girl I knew from high school got it and has lasting issues from it. Luckily my son hasn't had lasting issues because we caught it quickly.
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  • karichkarich member
    Lyme disease isn't rare where I live. My sister had it.
    The course of antibiotics for Lyme is long and the drug is a heavy duty one.
    I don't think I'd want my child given the med without good cause.
    Also, deer ticks are really small. Like the size of a sesame seed. Was the tick you saw about that size?
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  • RondackHikerRondackHiker member
    bay511 said:

    Should I be more concerned about ticks? I freaking grew up outside and it's just kind of a given that you do a tick check at night. But I never went to the doctor for them, just kept an eye on it.

    We do a tick check nightly and a quick one before hopping in the car after a hike or coming inside.

    If the tick is in just a few hours there's no need to worry. A deer tick in for 24 hours would make me talk to a doctor about antibiotics, if the area had a lot of Lyme.


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  • insertclevernameinsertclevername member
    DS1 had a deer tick in his thigh a year ago after playing in our backyard.  I removed it immediately after finding it.  The Dr. said just to monitor for symptoms.  Luckily, he never exhibited any symptoms related to Lyme.
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  • MaebbMaebb member
    JerseySprouts said:

    Just to add deer ticks are very small. This article compares them to a poppy seed. These are the ticks that most often carry Lyme disease.

    https://m.wikihow.com/Identify-a-Deer-Tick

    I have to admit I'm also shocked by ER for the tick. This is a pretty common occurrence where I live.

    Deer ticks are small, but not as small when they're filled up with 24 hours worth of blood, so it could be hard to tell just based an the size and a quick look at it before it got flushed.

    My dad got Lyme's disease when we lived in PA. From what I remember, it made him really irritable. He got treatment for it and was fine after that.

    OP, hopefully it's just nothing, and your daughter will start to feel better soon. I like the idea about drawing a line around the red circle so that you can watch it closely.
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  • dashofrealitydashofreality member

    I'm on rash/fever watch right now with my son. I know it was a deer tick and I know that I was an idiot that thought it was a scab and it was on for just over 36 hours, which is the concern point. I was/am freaking out a bit - see my previous post.

    Deer ticks are really tiny. Seriously, poppy seed size and the one that was engorged from being on my son for 36 hours was not much bigger than a flea. I've removed wood ticks before, they are significantly larger. I talked to my doctor and the only effective preventive antibiotic is doxycycline and they don't recommend it for kids <8. So, even though he would meet the criteria they don't recommend antibiotics. So I'm waiting.

    The good news is that you saw it. Now that I've seen how small a deer tick is, I can see how so many people wind up not knowing they had a tick bite. Even with the bite the chance of Lymes is <2% so try not to worry too much.

    DD Nov 2010 ~ DS June 2012
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  • RondackHikerRondackHiker member
    Please! It's Lyme Disease, not lyme's.


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  • MJN9510MJN9510 member
    edited April 2014
    Update from my OP - From the sounds of it, it was probably a wood tick.  It was pretty big.  It was on her for at least 24 hours, so it was probably engorged too but it was about the size of a pea.  I have been checking her shoulder several times a day and it looks like the area around the bit is lightening up.  I did draw a circle around the redness and that redness is almost completely gone.  The area right where the tick was is still bright red and purple, but I expected that.  She isnt showing any flu like symptoms.  So, so far so good.  I live in Ohio, ticks are here but not as common.  The Pedi said Lyme Disease is a lot less likely in our area. Thanks for the info ladies!
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