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Page last updated: November 1, 2009
LYME DISEASE
IN RHODE ISLAND
The most common illness transmitted by an insect in Rhode Island is not Eastern Equine Encephalitis or West Nile Virus. It is Lyme disease.
However, it can still be difficult to receive an early and accurate Lyme disease diagnosis which will avoid costly and lengthy treatments and possible disability. Many physicians in Rhode Island who see patients with potential Lyme disease in it's early stages still miss the diagnosis unless they see a textbook example of a bull's eye rash with or without a positive blood test.
When some experts claim that all Lyme disease cases are successfully treated with a specific number of days of antibiotic treatment, it is not always the truth. There is no one treatment regimen which is entirely successful with all patients all of the time.
Guidelines for the management of Lyme disease are a helpful source of reliable information useful for doctors and patients. However, there are two different sets of guidelines developed for the diagnosis and treatement of tick-borne illness. One is from the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and the other is from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The Department of Health for the State of Rhode Island has a comprehensive Lyme disease web site. However, when the topic is chronic lyme disease, the RI State DOH frames it as a debate.
For a physician referral, please contact the Lyme Disease Association.
DISCLAIMER: This site is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information on this site. Medical information changes rapidly and while efforts will be made to update the content on this site, some information may be out of date.