Back

We live in an area where tick bites often lead to Lyme disease. My eight-year-old twin girls are both complaining of knee pain after a long hike today. I don't see any swelling so I don't think it's Lyme disease. Should I have them tested?

Studies show that the rates of Lyme disease is actually increasing in places where the condition is most common. This includes the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Pacific Northwest portions of the United States. Physicians and especially pediatricians in states like Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin are aware of this problem and know when to look for it. If you live in any of these areas, an immediate evaluation may be advised. Blood tests can be done but these aren't always reliable or helpful. There are other conditions such as septic (infectious) arthritis that must be identified and treated quickly. Children with septic arthritis are more likely to have a significant fever (higher than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit) and refuse to put weight on the affected leg. Neither one of these symptoms is typical of the clinical presentation of Lyme disease. Children with septic arthritis are more likely to have high levels of synovial fluid cell count and elevated white blood cells compared with children who have Lyme arthritis. But these tests are not used to make a definitive diagnosis because some children with Lyme disease also have high levels as well. A quick phone call to your physician's office and answering a few of their questions will probably give you the answer you need.

« Back