Provider Resources for Lyme Disease
Maryland is home to some of the highest Lyme Disease prevalence rates in the country, and Carroll County has the second highest prevalence rate among counties in the state.
Learn more with these provider resources for Lyme Disease:
Lyme Disease: Information for Healthcare Providers – North Carolina Department of Public Health
Tickborne Diseases of the United States – A Reference Manual for Healthcare Providers – CDC
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Testing – CDC
Lyme Disease Persistence – slides from CDC webinar
Finding a Physician – American Lyme Disease Foundation – care from a patient’s perspective
Carroll County Health Department pages on Lyme and tick control contain many links and resources for the general public:
Fight the Bite tick and mosquito bite prevention information
Best Practices for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease
Diagnose properly and early by using the two-tiered testing described below:
Listen to patient history, examine the patient, and confirm any visual symptoms (i.e. rash) by taking a photo. Take note of any other symptoms as well as bite history, if known.
Treat the patient with the recommended medications and dosages.
Tick Identification
If the patient indicates that they were aware of a bite, ask if they kept the tick. Examine the patient for any visible ticks that may still be present. The University of Maryland provides a tick identification service: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/deer-black-legged-and-wood-ticks
Chronic Lyme Disease
The CDC estimates that approximately 10-20% of treated patients will still experience symptoms. This condition is known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) or Chronic Lyme and can lead to long term health issues. For more information: Post-Lyme Disease Treatment – CDC