Table 2. Distribution of Lyme disease (LD) cases* in Maryland Eastern Shore, 1997–2000.

Diagnosis group†	No. LD cases (%) from medical record abstraction‡	No. LD cases (%) from follow-up patient survey§
Early stage	334 (10)	59 (21)
Late stage	156 (5)	25 (9)
Suspected LD	718 (21)	54 (19)
Tick bite	539 (16)	62 (22)
Other	1,668 (49)	84 (30)
Total	3,415 (100)	284 (100)

*LD cases in the study are clinically defined LD cases, which may not fit surveillance definition because the data were collected directly from healthcare organizations and physicians.
†Patients were divided into 5 diagnosis groups: clinically defined early-stage LD, clinically defined late-stage LD, suspected LD, tick bite, and other related complaints.
‡Number of patients (1997–2000) who were identified through records of encounters for LD, tick bites, insect bites, and serologic testing.
§Number of patients (1997–1998) who answered a questionnaire recording indirect medical costs, nonmedical costs, and productivity losses.