How old was the girl in the tick exposure case?

• A. 6
• B. 8
• C. 10
• D. 12

Answer: (B)

Age guides how we manage tick exposure because different antibiotics are used for older versus younger children. The vignette describes an eight-year-old girl, which places her in the age group for which doxycycline is an appropriate option if antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated after a tick bite in areas where Lyme disease is common. Doxycycline is avoided in younger children due to potential effects on teeth and bone development, so a younger child would be treated with a different antibiotic. Seeing eight as the girl's age aligns with the standard management approach for this exposure, making that age the correct one for the scenario. If the patient had been younger, the treatment plan would shift to a non-doxycycline antibiotic and different considerations.