u/SanFranPeach

Title: Tick bite on 5-year-old (Northern CA) — would you give doxycycline just in case?

Hi all, I’m hoping for some advice from people who’ve dealt with this or have medical insight.

We’re in Northern California and have been hiking a lot over the past 3–4 days. My 5-year-old started complaining about his back itching about 12 hours ago, so I checked and found a tick embedded in his back.

I removed it right away, but I have no idea how long it had been there. It could have been several hours or possibly a couple days. It didn’t look fully engorged, maybe a little. I panicked and didn’t save it, so I’m not sure what kind it was, but it was small, so maybe a deer tick.

There’s no rash or bullseye right now, but it’s only been less than a day since I took it out.

We went to urgent care and the doctor said they could prescribe doxycycline as a precaution, but basically left it up to me and didn’t strongly recommend one way or the other.

I’m feeling torn. Part of me thinks I should just give it to be safe. The other part wonders if that’s unnecessary.

Would you give doxycycline in this situation or just wait and monitor?

Would really appreciate any input, especially from anyone familiar with tick bites in California.

Title: Tick bite on 5-year-old (Northern CA) — would you give doxycycline just in case?

Hi all, I’m hoping for some advice from people who’ve dealt with this or have medical insight.

We’re in Northern California and have been hiking a lot over the past 3–4 days. My 5-year-old started complaining about his back itching about 12 hours ago, so I checked and found a tick embedded in his back.

I removed it right away, but I have no idea how long it had been there. It could have been several hours or possibly a couple days. It didn’t look fully engorged, maybe a little. I panicked and didn’t save it, so I’m not sure what kind it was, but it was small, so maybe a deer tick.

There’s no rash or bullseye right now, but it’s only been less than a day since I took it out.

We went to urgent care and the doctor said they could prescribe doxycycline as a precaution, but basically left it up to me and didn’t strongly recommend one way or the other.

I’m feeling torn. Part of me thinks I should just give it to be safe. The other part wonders if that’s unnecessary.

Would you give doxycycline in this situation or just wait and monitor?

Would really appreciate any input, especially from anyone familiar with tick bites in California.

Title: Tick bite on 5-year-old (Northern CA) — would you give doxycycline just in case?

Hi all, I’m hoping for some advice from people who’ve dealt with this or have medical insight.

We’re in Northern California and have been hiking a lot over the past 3–4 days. My 5-year-old started complaining about his back itching about 12 hours ago, so I checked and found a tick embedded in his back.

I removed it right away, but I have no idea how long it had been there. It could have been several hours or possibly a couple days. It didn’t look fully engorged, maybe a little. I panicked and didn’t save it, so I’m not sure what kind it was, but it was small, so maybe a deer tick.

There’s no rash or bullseye right now, but it’s only been less than a day since I took it out.

We went to urgent care and the doctor said they could prescribe doxycycline as a precaution, but basically left it up to me and didn’t strongly recommend one way or the other.

I’m feeling torn. Part of me thinks I should just give it to be safe. The other part wonders if that’s unnecessary.

Would you give doxycycline in this situation or just wait and monitor?

Would really appreciate any input, especially from anyone familiar with tick bites in California.