title: 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.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, 50 North Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN 38103, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukkada
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, 50 North Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN 38103, USA. Electronic address: sbucking@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Buckingham
mesh_terms: D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: Anaplasmosis; Babesiosis; Doxycycline; Ehrlichiosis; Lyme disease; Rocky Mountain spotted fever; Tick-borne infections; Tularemia