The Cribsiders S5 Ep103: Tick-Talk: A Deet-ailed Look at Tick-Borne Illnesses.
Feb 14, 2024
Dr. Buddy Creech, an expert in tick-borne illnesses, discusses the signs and symptoms of these illnesses, the importance of geographic variation, the drug of choice for treatment, and lab abnormalities in Ehrlichiosis.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Most Tick Bites Are Unnoticed
- Most tick bites go unnoticed as ticks feed and detach without detection.
- Don't rely on known tick bites to suspect tick-borne illness clinically.
Prophylaxis for Tick Bites
- For tick bite prophylaxis, consider five criteria: location, time (<72h), tick engorgement, tick species, and doxycycline safety.
- Use a single dose doxycycline in high-risk exposures in endemic Lyme areas.
Complex Lyme Disease Testing
- Lyme disease diagnostic testing is complex, relying on two-tier testing with ELISA and Western blot.
- Interpretation requires knowing lab methods and guidelines to avoid misdiagnosis.