THE PUBLIC-HEALTH IMPACT OF LYME-DISEASE IN MARYLAND

Citation
Bs. Coyle et al., THE PUBLIC-HEALTH IMPACT OF LYME-DISEASE IN MARYLAND, The Journal of infectious diseases, 173(5), 1996, pp. 1260-1262
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Infectious Diseases
ISSN journal
00221899
Volume
173
Issue
5
Year of publication
1996
Pages
1260 - 1262
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-1899(1996)173:5<1260:TPIOLI>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the health burden imposed by Lyme disease (LD) in Maryland during 1992 and 1993. A cross-sectional 1-in-15 survey of physicians (total, 1200) in Maryland was conducted to estimate the incidence of diagnosed LD, presumptive cases of LD, pa tients with tick bites, and diagnostic tests ordered for LD. Results s how that LD is underreported by 10- to 12-fold in Maryland, that 80% o f cases are managed by primary care physicians, and that there is disc ordance between the actual clinical treatment of patients and the reco mmended approach. In addition, the much greater numbers of patients tr eated for presumptive LD, seen and given prophylaxis for tick bites, a nd having diagnostic tests indicate that real and perceived LD is a fa r greater public health problem and uses more medical resources than o fficial surveillance data suggest.