May Has Arrived! Time to Talk to Patients About Preventing Tickborne Illnesses

May 3, 2024

The month of May kicks off National Lyme Disease Awareness Month! 
 
Ticks are very active at certain times of the year, with the peak months being June and July. Yet, it’s not too early for physicians to get Lyme disease on their radar.
 
If a patient has a rash or any unexplained illness accompanied by fever following a tick bite, it’s time to consult with their physician.
 
Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks and is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. The pathogen that causes Lyme disease cannot spread to humans until the tick has been attached for at least 24 hours. Remind your patients to check for ticks immediately after being outside.
 
Get a refresher on the latest evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease with ISMS’ on-demand course, Lyme Disease: An Update on Evidence-Based Management and Research. The course is presented by infectious disease specialist Alfredo J. Mena Lora, M.D., of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

CME is available and the course is available to ISMS members and their employed staff at no cost!
 
To learn more, access these resources:

• The Infectious Diseases Society of America offers Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease.

• The Illinois Department of Public Health’s Lyme Disease web page includes guidance on avoiding tick bites that you can share with your patients.

• ISMS also offers a comprehensive web page on Lyme disease that includes materials intended for sharing with patients, such as instructions on how to remove a tick.

If you have questions, please contact the ISMS Health Policy Research and Advocacy team by email.