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Red skin rash, back pain, headache. EARLY LYME DISEASE?

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Do I have early Lyme disease? Last night I developed a 1-foot diameter red skin rash in the upper-center of my back. The center is darker. Other symptoms: pain in back at center of rash, and mild headache. I have a picture that I can attach that was taken at 2015-06-30 04:40am (today) ALSO - I understand there may be a new (recent) protocol for Lyme treatment. I hope you will make sure your recommendations for treatment are current. Thank you

Category: Dermatologist

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Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD)Specialist
 32 Doctors Online

Hi,
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I have seen the picture attached.
It is due to some insect bite or tick bite. Lyme disease is caused by a bite of infected ixodid tick. Initial manifestations are erythematous lesion at site of tick bite which may grow centrifugally known as erythema migrans. It may be associated with fever, malaise, headache, stiffneck,sore throat, myalgia, abdominal pain vomiting etc. If you live in lyme disease endemic area, then it should be a diffrential in your case. Lyme disease is treatable with oral dose of doxycycline 100 mg twice daily atleast for two weeks. Use a steroid cream at site of red rash to help it subside. I would strongly advise that you meet a dermatologist nearby to rule out Lyme disease as normal insect bite too could present similarly.

Take care


Patient replied :

Doctor gave incomplete answer and did not tell me anything I did not already know. And since I waited 20 hours for a response I already had seen a local doctor making this consultation useless.

  1. Symptoms presented included bullseye rash making it likely that the bite was from a tic as I said in my entry, not from another insect
  2. New protocol is for 200 mg Doxycycline all at once IF the tic is removed within 72 hour of treatment. Doctor did not mention that. It does not apply to me but it might have
  3. Doctor should have known that Lyme carrying tics are endemic to my area IF she had received my location.If not thatis aweakness in the sw. Also Imentioned I had Lyme before.
  4. Doctors description of symptoms was cryptic.
  5. Doctor apparently did not see my expanded patient history,and although it was probably not relevant it shows aproblem with your software andinformation delivery.
  6. I am requesting a refund.
  7. I saw a doctor yesterday afternoon after waiting 8 hours without response.

Thanks for trying, I emailed similar info to support


Hello,
Kindly understand sometimes the replies take longer, and the doctor is willing to answer as many follow-ups as you have. Also, kindly note that the expanded medical history was added later, so it was missed and not forwarded to the specialist.

Since you live in a tick endemic area, the doctor mentioned this is definitely a differential diagnosis.
The treatment has also been mentioned, and you do not need 200 mg of Doxycycline.
I request you to post follow-ups if you wish too. It will be answered quickly. I can assure you the follow-up replies will not take time, and we will allow as many follow-ups as you have till you're satisfied.

Regards.


Dr. Kalpana Pathak
Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD)Specialist
Experience: 
M.D. from Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak in 2011 with Haryana State Dental & Medical Council
M.B.B.S from MLN medical college allahabad in 2006 with Uttar Pradesh Medical Council
Dr. Kalpana Pathak and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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