Follow-up related
to deer tick diseases
James Bordewick's well-researched article published in the Park Rapids Enterprise Wednesday, May 16 was an excellent review of the Deer Tick diseases.
He spoke with me twice by telephone and I believed that he understood that I am a physician assistant, not a physician. I probably answered his call with "This is Ed" rather than "This is Mr. Novak, physician assistant..." My apologies to James and the readers who may have been misled.
Phone calls to my desk are usually from persons who know my title and position. My apologies.
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The laboratory testing outlined in the article is what I usually do; this should not be construed to mean that everyone with the disease symptoms requires these tests - they are done by me when the diagnosis is in doubt and I need additional information to help me decide whether or not to recommend that the patient undergo a significant course of antibiotic therapy which may have potentially serious adverse/side-effects. The important thing is not the "tests" but rather, the diagnosis.
The latest Deer Tick-borne disease map of Minnesota now includes Hubbard, a large portion of Becker and the southern parts of Clearwater and Beltrami counties; a significant change from the previous years' maps.
Ed Novak, RPA-C
Dakota Clinic
