Single dose doxycycline for treatment of tick bite only prevents Lyme disease rash
In a review entitled “Lyme Disease: Emergency Department Considerations,” Applegren et al. recommend using a one-time, single dose of doxycycline for the prophylactic treatment of a tick bite, [1] despite the fact that there has been only one study exploring the effectiveness of such a limited dosage. The article also neglects to mention that there are doctors who take a different approach and advise against a one-time, single dose. [3]
In the article, the authors reference the 2006 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines when making their recommendation that “individuals be treated with a single dose of doxycycline (4 mg/kg in children ≥8 years of age to a maximum 200 mg and 200 mg in adults)”. [1]
Their recommendation applies only to patients meeting the following criteria, “(1) the attached tick is clearly identified as a nymph or adult I. scapularis; (2) the tick has been attached ≥36 hours; (3) local infection rates of ticks with B. burgdorferi is ≥20%; and (4) there are no contraindications to doxycycline.” [2]
The authors fail to mention that the IDSA single dose of doxycycline approach is based on one study, which only found a reduction in the number of erythema migrans (EM) rashes.
“A study by Nadelman et al. found that patients treated with a single dose of doxycycline developed EM manifestation at a lower rate than the placebo group (0.4% compared to 3.2%, respectively),” according to Applegren.
The review also does not mention the evidence, as put forth by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), which finds that a single dose is ineffective in warding off Lyme disease. Such evidence was easily accessible via open access, peer-reviewed journals in PubMed [3], the Journal’s website[4], and the National Guideline Clearing House. [5]
ILADS 2014 guidelines used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to conclude that the evidence for a single, 200 mg dose of doxycycline was “sparse, coming from a single study with few events, and, thus, imprecise.” [3]
There were only 9 EM rashes in the Nadelman study. Nadelman and colleagues were able to reduce the number of rashes from eight to one by prescribing a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline. The “p” value was barely significant at 0.04.
The IDSA guidelines adopted the single, 200 mg dose of doxycycline despite the fact that 3 previous prophylactic antibiotic trials for a tick bite had failed.
Nadelman’s study had several other limitations:
- It was not designed to detect Lyme disease if the rash were absent.
- The 6-week observation period was not designed to detect chronic or late manifestations of Lyme disease.
- It was not designed to assess whether a single dose of doxycycline might be effective for preventing other tick-borne illnesses such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis, or Borrelia miyamotoi.
Today, patients expect to be informed of their treatment options. The recent review in the Journal of Emergency Medicine [1] would have been stronger if the authors had disclosed the evidence against using a single, 200 mg dose of doxycycline for prophylactic treatment of a tick bite.
Updated: August 29, 2022
Related Articles:
Single dose of doxycycline for Lyme disease led to poor outcome for 61-year-old man
Can’t trust single dose doxycycline to prevent Lyme disease
No evidence single doxycycline dosage for Lyme disease prevention is effective in children
References:
- Applegren ND, Kraus CK. Lyme Disease: Emergency Department Considerations. J Emerg Med, (2017).
- Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED et al. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis, 43(9), 1089-1134 (2006).
- Cameron DJ, Johnson LB, Maloney EL. Evidence assessments and guideline recommendations in Lyme disease: the clinical management of known tick bites, erythema migrans rashes and persistent disease. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 1-33 (2014).
- Cameron DJ, Johnson LB, Maloney EL. Evidence assessments and guideline recommendations in Lyme disease: the clinical management of known tick bites, erythema migrans rashes and persistent disease from Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy 2014 at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1586/14787210.2014.940900.
- Evidence assessments and guideline recommendations in Lyme disease: the clinical management of known tick bites, erythema migrans rashes and persistent disease. National Guideline Clearinghouse. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. Available from: https://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=49320.
jz
08/27/2018 (7:46 pm)
Hi – If a prophylactic antibiotic is not the right course of action, what is a better approach?
Dr. Daniel Cameron
08/28/2018 (5:17 pm)
I prophylactic antibiotic is planed, the ILADS guideline recommend the following:
Clinicians should promptly offer antibiotic prophylaxis for known Ixodes tick bites, in which there is evidence of tick feeding, regardless of the degree of tick engorgement or the infection rate in the local tick population. The preferred regimen is 100–200 mg of doxycycline, twice daily for 20 days. Other treatment options may be appropriate on an individualized basis (see remarks below). (Recommendation, very low-quality evidence).
You can read the guidelines at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196523/
Marta O’Bosky
04/16/2018 (3:11 am)
I had also received 1 time dose to prevent Lyme. 2 months later came down with all the Lyme symptoms and 6 years later am still chronically ill with Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia. Years of antibiotics, herbs, supplements have done nothing. I’m in constant full body pain… they always talk about treating Lyme right away, but what about coinfections? So many people are not just infected with Lyme but also multitude of other infections. There needs to be early treatments that can treat them all.
Conrad Miller
09/23/2017 (12:29 pm)
The truth is that as soon as the tick injects its evil brew of germs and toxins into the bitten-person’s body, these are there and the organisms will multiply vs. the individual’s immune system. Rash or no rash the borrelia, erlichia, babesiosis et al organisms will be using one’s body as a medium, symbiotic or parasitic, with there no likely 48 hour time clock threshold existing for all potential Lyme Disease victims to begin being ‘diseased’ as once proclaimed by Stony Brook Lyme Physician Dattwyler..
Jennifer
04/28/2017 (12:53 pm)
I have asked this before and I ask it again….Is there proof that the tick has to be attached for 24 hours in order for the virus to pass from the host? I would like to check this study out. I can’t seem to find anything only that “that’s just how we roll attitude”. How do they know this? What were the tests done on? When did this take place? How many times was this proven in the testing? Where’s the proof?!
Joyce Dahlberg
05/24/2017 (9:46 pm)
The # of hours is just an opinion. There has been no research done on this. It is only assuming. If you read articles many have different length. It is beyond a pandemic. It is not being acknowledged to reduce fear only. In my opinion hell will break loose very soon. Just a few days ago a 8 year old died 10 days after going to the doctors and was given another diagnosis. She died from a co infection of lyme that can be transmitted as fast as within 15 minutes. Only by drastic measures will something be done. THE TIME HAS COME TO AVOID OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES which would result in something being done because MONEY TALKS when the economy collapses due to no recreational pursuits.
Lorna
05/29/2017 (7:39 pm)
I have had Lyme – the bullseye rash, etc. – with a tick attached for less than 24 hours.
Jeff Levy
07/06/2017 (9:40 pm)
Here is a brief video that answers this question: https://youtu.be/296pVc5Zbxw
Tricia
03/20/2017 (4:16 pm)
This is exactly how my daughter at 7 became chronically ill with Lyme disease and suffered for 6 years while being bedridden. Her pediatrician assured me that a single prophylactic course of Doxy would completely prevent Lyme. Her ignorance caused my daughter to lose years of her childhood/teen years.