Navigating Tick-Borne Illnesses

This chapter highlights the critical need for prompt antibiotic treatment following tick bites, ideally within 72 hours, to prevent disease progression. It discusses the evaluation and treatment of various tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, emphasizing diagnostic challenges and the importance of understanding symptomatology. Additionally, the chapter explores geographic prevalence and the role of specific blood tests in confirming diagnoses, along with treatment protocols, notably the use of doxycycline.