title: Tick-borne illness in Rhode Island - how big a problem is it?
abstract: Rhode Island is a state with a high incidence of tick-borne diseases, specifically Lyme disease. The Ioxedes tick which serves as vector for the three most common tick infections is endemic in both the New England and mid-Atlantic regions. However, differences in the density of infections exist within Rhode Island (RI), with the highest densities in the southern counties. Tick-borne diseases can have varying presentations, as well as varied response to appropriate treatment leading to many questions and confusion for patients, clinicians, and the public itself.
authors.affiliation: Fellow in Infectious Disease, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.affiliation: Medicine-Pediatrics Resident, PGY-2, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Division of Infectious Diseases.
authors.forename: Aadia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: Director, Immunology Center, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI; Associate Professor of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Erna M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kojic
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Physician, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI; Dean's Professor of Medical Science, Professor of Medicine and Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Flanigan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Lyme disease; TBDs; anaplasmosis; babesiosis; tick-borne illness