Tick-Borne Diseases of Humans

With increased travel and exposure to exotic environments, the incidence of tick-borne diseases afflicting humans is on the rise. Tick-borne illnesses are extremely diverse, both biologically and clinically, and symptoms are often nonspecific, making recognition and appropriate treatment challenging. "Tick-Borne Diseases of Humans" provides physicians and scientists with up-to-date and comprehensive information on the biology, ecology, and clinical aspects of these diseases. It will familiarize clinicians with the various disease syndromes and diagnoses, even for those diseases that commonly occur outside of their sphere of experience. A ready resource, this book covers key information that will be highly useful to students and professionals in the fields of human and veterinary medicine, public health, medical entomology, acarology, and ecology. Written by experts with specialized field knowledge, "Tick-Borne Diseases of Humans" presents state-of-the-art information on disease epidemiology, transmission, and ecology. The book is divided into three sections, each of which can be used independently or in concert with the remaining two sections. Section I integrates divergent information relevant to the full spectrum of tick-borne diseases, incorporating tick biology and identification, distribution of the diseases ticks transmit, and various strategies for tick control. In addition, this section comprehensively reviews the clinical approach to a patient with a possible tick-borne affliction. Section II is devoted to in-depth profiles of specific diseases, including information on disease history, biology, epidemiology, ecology, transmission, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. And, Section III examines the geographical distribution of tick-borne diseases and their vectors. This book examines the striking increase in incidence and our subsequent awareness of a broad array of tick-borne diseases. It addresses both vector and disease perspectives, including state-of-the-art information on disease epidemiology, transmission, and ecology; clinical and laboratory findings; diagnosis; and treatment and prevention. It: includes a useful full-color insert, with maps of vector and disease distribution, an atlas of clinical and pathologic images, and illustrations of diagnostically important skin lesions and blood smears; introduces public health practitioners, research scientists, and students to the field and also provides references for information beyond traditional areas of expertise; and also presents accessible information to an informed public on disease transmission, clinical laboratory diagnosis and treatment, and history of infections.