Whether it is primary care for all ages - infants through geriatrics, or specialty care for complex disease states, or consultations, or second opinions, The Baton Rouge Clinic is prepared to help you!
May is National Arthritis Month! The number of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms is estimated at 66 million, with women being affected more often than men. Approximately 20 million people live with chronic joint symptoms, ...
Surgical weight loss seminars will be presented by our weight-loss surgery physicians, Dr. Jonathan Taylor and Dr. James Froelich. ...
The Baton Rouge Clinic is proud to announce that it has become the ninth medical clinic in Louisiana to achieve the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Diabetes Recognition. In achieving this recognition, the Baton Rouge Clinic physicians have met NCQA standards demonstrating the ability to deliver high-quality care to patients with diabetes. ...
What may have seemed like science fiction, surgery without an incision, is now a reality that is making lives better for patients suffering from chronic acid reflux also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). ...
Baton Rouge Clinic Health Library
Infection:
Lyme Disease
Published: 06, 2000
Lyme Disease is an illness caused by a bacteria transmitted to humans through the bite of a tick. Not all ticks can transmit this bacteria. The main source of transmission is the deer tick - a small pinhead sized tick found normally in the northeastern United States. This fact is important in answering your questions.
If you find large ticks on your body it is unlikely to be the type of tick which transmits Lyme Disease. Also, if you hunt or spend time in the woods here in south Louisiana, your risk of catching Lyme Disease has been called Aminimal to none@ by the Center for Disease Control. As you move into the northeastern United States the risk becomes higher - but throughout the south there are no areas of high or ever moderate risk for Lyme Disease.
You are correct, there is a new vaccine called Lymerix7 available for prevention of Lyme Disease. It involves three shots spaced over 12 months and is only recommended for those who reside, work or recreate in areas of high or moderate risk. If after reading this you still think you may be at risk, you should see your doctor to discuss your concerns further. Good luck.
Michael L. Rolfsen, MD, FACP
Specializing in Internal Medicine
[ View Author Bio ]
The Baton Rouge Clinic, AMC, offers this information as a courtesy service. Please remember that medical knowledge is always evolving and we cannot represent that any of our information is absolutely current. Please consult a physician before taking any medical action based on information gathered from this or any website.
