Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:11:15 -0400
From: “John R Dykers”
Subject: Marcia E. Herman-Giddens and ticks in Chatham County
Just wanted the Chatlist to know that we at Siler City Rotary enjoyed a most informative and pleasant visit by Dr. Herman-Giddens on Monday. She surely has devoted great time and energy and expertise to all the citizens of Chatham County and is greatly appreciated.
We were having a great learning experience when we ran out of time, but Marcia most graciously stayed after adjournment and visited with many of us continuing to enquire.
For all the Chatlist, the tests are still (my word) lousy. Inadequate and needing development is a more professional way of saying. Need to add that the strict epidemiology study criteria of the CDC are unfortunately misleading the clinical recognition of many illnesses using the tick as a means of transmission. Ticks are getting worse than the mosquito, and moving north with warmer weather.
Bottom line, avoiding the ticks as best you can is best. Early removal is next best. High index of suspicion for tick borne illnesses is wise and early treatment also beats getting sick with weird and deadly diseases. Saving a removed tick at least alerts your physician to the genre. And many infection carrier stages of the tick are so d— small they are hard to find and may bite and infect without our knowing it.
Thanks for coming, Marcia.
John R. Dykers, Jr. MD