Recognition of and Prompt Treatment for Tick-Borne Infections in Children.

Abstract

Tick-borne infections create diagnostic challenges because they tend to present with nonspecific findings. Because clinicians often fail to recognize tick-borne illnesses in early stages, therapy is frequently delayed or omitted. This is especially problematic for rickettsial infections (Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis), because the risk of long-term morbidity and mortality increases with delayed treatment. We emphasize the need for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for tick-borne infections; to diagnose these illnesses presumptively, without waiting for confirmatory laboratory test results; and to promptly start therapy with doxycycline, even in young children, when rickettsial infections are suspected.

• Authors: Sheena Mukkada, Steven C Buckingham
• Journal: Infectious disease clinics of North America (Infect Dis Clin North Am) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 539-55 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1557-9824 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26188606 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Doxycycline

Topics

• Anaplasmosis (diagnosis, therapy)
• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Doxycycline (therapeutic use)
• Ehrlichiosis (diagnosis, therapy)
• Humans
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (diagnosis, therapy)
• Tick-Borne Diseases (diagnosis, therapy)
• Ticks (microbiology)