A minority of children diagnosed with Lyme disease recall a preceding tick bite

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019 Apr;10(3):694-696. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.02.015. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Abstract

Of 1770 children undergoing emergency department evaluation for Lyme disease, 362 (20.5%) children had Lyme disease. Of those with an available tick bite history, only a minority of those with Lyme disease had a recognized tick bite (60/325; 18.5%, 95% confidence interval 14.6-23.0%). Lack of a tick bite history does not reliably exclude Lyme disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mental Recall*
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tick Bites / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult