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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
07:21

Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing

Published on: August 25, 2018

The emerging spectrum of tickborne infections

M Radetsky1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Lovelace Health System and University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87122, USA.

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|October 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Most tickborne infections are diagnosed clinically, as lab tests are often unhelpful early on. Doxycycline is the standard treatment, and children typically tolerate these infections well with good outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Tickborne infections represent a growing public health concern.
  • Clinical presentation is key for early diagnosis of tickborne illnesses.
  • Established treatment protocols exist for common tickborne diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of tickborne infections in children.
  • To emphasize diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
  • To highlight the generally favorable prognosis in pediatric cases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on tickborne infections.
  • Analysis of diagnostic utility of laboratory testing in early stages.
  • Evaluation of treatment guidelines, focusing on doxycycline use.
  • Assessment of clinical outcomes in pediatric populations.

Main Results:

  • Clinical diagnosis remains paramount due to limited utility of early laboratory testing.
  • Doxycycline is the recommended presumptive therapy, safe for pediatric use.
  • Most children tolerate tickborne infections well, with generally benign outcomes, except in very young infants.

Conclusions:

  • Reinforces the importance of clinical judgment in diagnosing tickborne infections.
  • Confirms doxycycline as a safe and effective treatment option for children.
  • Highlights the generally good prognosis for pediatric patients with tickborne illnesses.

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