My Kid Got Bit By a Deer Tick…Now What?

So it happened. After reading about it, hearing about it, stressing about it, and praying it would never happen to us, it did. After running around the backyard in the buck (her, not us), we found a deer tick embedded in the precious little booty of my 2-year-old.

This happened over the summer, and with life as crazy as it is, I’m just now sitting down to share the 5-step protocol we used to reduce the chances that she’d contract Lyme disease.

The upside was that we found it EARLY – and, more than likely, the damn thing didn’t have a ton of time to wreak havoc in her sweet little body. But, we were still very cautious about our next steps and did our very best to prevent Lyme disease.

We were freaked out for good reason – where we live in the Northeast has one of the highest rates of Lyme Disease, infecting at least 5,500 residents a year in our home state of Massachusetts and likely many more. Adding insult to injury, the hellacious winter that we had last year, gave those little bastards insulation from the super low temperatures, so they emerged ready to sink their teeth into anything with a pulse. {source}

And worst of all, our sweet little papillon, Sami died from Lyme Nephritis last summer, so we were on super high alert.

Of course, not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. And a tick that is infected has to be attached to a person’s skin for at least 24-48 hours before it can transmit that bacteria. Since we were working under the assumption that it had NOT been attached to her for that length of time, we had a good head start.

So what did we do?

IMMEDIATE STEPS

Well, first things first – we removed the tick, making sure not to detach the tick’s head from its body. This is a super-easy-to-follow tutorial for how to safely remove a deer tick.

Next, we saved it in a plastic bag, in the event symptoms started to emerge we could have it tested. We’d at least have a definitive diagnosis.

Then, I cleaned the area where she was bit with castile soap and water, dried the area, and then made a quick salve with one drop of Thieves Essential Oil Blend and ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil and applied it to the area that she was bit. Thieves Essential Oil Blend has amazing purifying properties and can also help to support a healthy immune system – a total 2-fer. This is where I buy Thieves at wholesale.

NEXT STEPS

Over the next seven days, my goal was to boost her little immune system to do everything it could to fight the potential for Lyme.

Like with almost any disease, the immune system is critical in treating Lyme disease and its coinfections. Since turning back the clock to prevent the bite in the first place was not an option, this 5-step immune-boosting protocol was our only strategy.

1. Thieves Essential Oil Blend: I can’t say enough how I love love love my essential oils. They’ve changed our lives in so many ways, and natural immune system support certainly tops the list. This is a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and rosemary that is known best for it’s ability to support the immune system and purify the environment. I diffused it around the clock in my home diffuser and then applied it diluted (a LOT – it’s a very strong blend) to the soles of her feet three times a day.
2. Body Nourishing Bone Broth: This magic tonic is my “go-to” year round, but particularly during times of compromised immunity. Read all about the benefits of bone broth and why you need this stuff in your life here. I had her drink about 2 cups a day of this goodness. Fortunately, she loves it and gladly drinks it through a straw (like this one) daily, so this was an easy one.
3. Cod Liver Oil: This old school remedy for resilient health still reigns in the world of traditional medicine. It’s received a bad wrap for, let’s face it, its fishy flavor, but that’s no reason to omit it from your regimen. Besides essential omega-3 fatty acids, it also contains immunity-boosting vitamins A and D. She takes it everyday, so I just kept up with her daily dose of about 1 tsp. This is a good, affordable brand that isn’t too fishy-tasting.
4. Elderberry Syrup: Elderberries are a rich source of vitamins A and C, which are crucial in helping the body maintain optimal health. Plus, the bioflavonoids in elderberry syrup boost the body’s immune system by increasing antioxidant levels and viruses that damage cell walls. If you’re feeling really ambitious, make your own elderberry syrup with this recipe. If you’re not, here’s a good quality organic supplement sold in glass.
5. Probiotics: Your gut contains a whopping 70% of your immune system function. How? The mucosal lining in your intestines is quite literally the direct physical barrier to pathogenic organisms trying to invade your body. Probiotics are naturally found in foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, miso, tempeh, kombucha, or beet kvass, amongst many other delicious options. I loaded her up with homemade kraut and raw milk yogurt – her two favorite probiotic-rich foods, in addition to a small scoop of these raw probiotics for kids.

Many kids who have Lyme disease develop a red rash at the site of the tick bite, which sometimes has a characteristic “bull’s-eye” appearance. Based on what Dr. Google had to say, in the week or two after the tick bite, you want to look for an expanding ring of solid redness or a red bump surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. The rash may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint aches.

We were on high alert during that time. Fortunately, the suggested two weeks had passed without symptoms – so we were in the clear.

Truth be told, it was one of the most frightening times as a parent and a SERIOUS wake-up call to religiously do several daily tick checks – especially when outdoor play has ruled the day.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me, have you ever had a scare like that? If so, how did you handle it? I’d love to hear! Please leave a comment below.

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