I'm so glad you posted that link, Phil. It's Laurie's story that  
first made me super-aware of Lyme Disease. A few days ago, I posted  
some comments urging people to start antibiotics if they were bitten  
by deer ticks (a slight amendment: if you think the tick was attached  
for more than 24 hours, which is why it's so important to check  
yourself everyday). A physician responded to me privately, saying  
that this was an unnecessary use of antibiotics that contributes to  
the growing problem of antibiotics-resistant bacteria. (I suggested  
he share his concerns with this list so people can hear his argument  
and decide for themselves. But he didn't.)

I still disagree with him. Advanced Lyme Disease is very  
debilitating, and can be fatal. I'm not going to wait around for  
symptoms to appear; all the reasons for that are eloquently and  
vividly expressed by Laurie in her web site. The misuse of  
antibiotics is a very serious problem, but taking antibiotics to  
prevent a *possible* Lyme Disease infection is, IMHO, a valid use of  
the drug. The real criticisms need to be directed at the doctors who  
prescribe it for viral infections and patients who don't complete  
their entire course of treatment. But if a doctor refuses to  
prescribe antibiotics for a deer tick bite that carries the risk of  
Lyme Disease, that's a dangerous gamble at the patient's expense. And  
if your doctor decides to take a gamble on your life, give him or her  
a printout of Laurie's story.

From: Phil Davis <>
 > Birders following in this thread will want to read the related  
story of
 > Laurie Larson.
 >        http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/James/page60.html

-------------------------
Shireen Gonzaga
Baltimore, MD