Lymphadenitis - prayer request

FINAL UPDATE (7/29/10):
His lymph node is still swollen today but not very red or inflamed anymore.  His lyme titer was negative and CBC was fine (WBC's still show a mild shift -but nothing unusual).  He is tolerating the Augmentin.  No real explanation as to why it happened -- probably related to the bug bite but as long as it continues to get better no follow up is needed.  Thanks for praying.

UPDATE (7/28/10):
 Erik's ear looks better today.  It doesn't seem to bother him at all.  He has a follow up appointment tomorrow.  I anticipate it will be okay.  Still puzzled/concerned as to why he had it in the first place.

ORIGINAL (7/27/10):
When we were in WI in June Erik woke up one morning with a bite mark behind his ear and a really red swollen welt (size of a ping pong ball) behind his right ear.  Assuming it was from a horse fly or some other bug we treated it with benadryl and topical antihistamines/antibiotics.

About 24 hours after the welt appeared he developed a 103.5 degree fever.  No other symptoms.  On the 4th day of the fever I took him to a walk-in clinic (in the grocery store).  The NP was concerned because the fever had lasted so long.  She couldn't do much due to the setting she worked in so she sent us to the main clinic.

The doctor I saw there didn't seem worried about the fever or the welt but he did check a strep test (negative) and a CBC (showed mild shift in his WBC's consistent with a viral infection).  His ears were clear and we were sent home.

Erik's symptoms resolved and the welt seemed to go away.

This morning he woke up his a very large welt behind his right ear again.  It is red and swollen.  No fever or other symptoms but I took him back in again.

His pediatrician agreed that is was concerning.  She thinks it is likely a bacterial infection that developed secondary to the bite he got a month ago causing a lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph node behind his right ear).  The other thing she was concerned about was mastoiditis.  This is much more serious but treated initially with antibiotics as well.  There are other, worse things it could be, although this is very unlikely!

She checked a CBC again and at my request checked him for lyme's disease (I have been worried about this ever since we were in WI and he has the bite followed by red circle around it).  We don't have the results yet!

He was also started on a high dose of Augmentin.

I am taking him back for a follow up appointment on Thursday.

Please pray that this is a benign infection that will clear up quickly with the antibiotics.

I will keep you updated.

Thanks!