While most tick bites do not transmit infectious disease, some very serious infections can be contracted from the bite of this vector. There are more than a dozen tickborne diseases in the United States and several others that are found only in other countries.
Massachusetts-based infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa joined me on the show to go over the laboratory testing and findings and treatment of several of the most common tickborne infections seen in the US–anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever and tularemia.
Dr LaRosa also gave his thoughts on some Lyme disease topics to include antibiotic prophylaxis and some testing issues.
Check out his blog at My thoughts on the future of infectious disease and medicine
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Related:
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and the importance of timely treatment with doxycycline
- Lyme disease treatment: Some thoughts
- The history behind the Lyme disease controversy and what’s new in Lyme research
- A look at the differences in geographical distribution of Lyme disease
- A new Lyme disease test: Dr Richard Marconi discusses the GLD Test
- Lyme disease, Stevia and the quest for better treatments
- Lyme disease: Borrelia biofilm in the body demonstrated
- Lyme disease: The Borrelia mayonii discovery
- Powassan virus: The spread is inevitable
- Lyme: Q & A with Paul Auwaerter, MD
- Babesiosis cases likely on the rise
- Anaplasmosis bacteria like a ‘stealth warrior’, turning a tick’s gut microbes against itself
- Outbreak News Radio: Heartland virus disease, What do Americans think about vaccines?
- Hantavirus and tularemia: Discussions with two prominent Public Health Veterinarians

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