Date of Award
Senior Honors Thesis
College or School
Program or Major
Medical Laboratory Science
Bachelor of Science
Overall, approximately 95 percent of reported cases of vector-borne disease were associated with ticks, making these the most medically important group of arthropods in the United States.1 Despite the prevalence of tick-borne infections, the process for the diagnosis of this condition is not well studied. This study aims to analyze data from a pool of 100 patients who underwent testing for tick-borne disease in the same institution in Dover, New Hampshire during the most recent peak tick season of 2019. Information utilized in this study included: patient age, sex, location of testing (inpatient versus outpatient), diagnostic testing methods used pertaining to investigation of tick-borne disease, results of tick-borne panel testing, number of days to obtain tick panel results, symptomology, treatments pertaining to the investigation of tick-borne disease, and record of follow-up visits. Analyses of these data points revealed a trend that suggests the current diagnostic process for tick-borne disease is unnecessarily burdensome for patients and medical facilities. There is a need for a faster turnaround time in testing to decrease the need for supplemental tests and follow-up visits pertaining to the investigation of tick-borne diseases. This study also suggests that recognition of symptoms associated with positive results is paramount to improve the detection of tick-borne illnesses. Further investigation of our current methods and possible future adaptations to them are critical if we are to conquer the diverse array of challenges presented by tick-borne diseases.
Anderson, Katherine, "Tick-borne Infections in New Hampshire: An Evaluation of the Diagnostic Process in a Local Patient Population" (2020). Honors Theses and Capstones. 484.
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