1. Lyme borreliosis: diagnosis and management.
- Author
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Kullberg BJ, Vrijmoeth HD, van de Schoor F, and Hovius JW
- Subjects
- Acrodermatitis etiology, Acrodermatitis pathology, Anti-Bacterial Agents administration & dosage, Arthritis diagnosis, Arthritis etiology, Arthritis microbiology, Borrelia burgdorferi Group genetics, Erythema Chronicum Migrans etiology, Erythema Chronicum Migrans microbiology, Erythema Chronicum Migrans pathology, Europe epidemiology, Female, Humans, Lyme Disease blood, Lyme Disease epidemiology, Male, North America epidemiology, Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome epidemiology, Prevalence, Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Lyme Disease drug therapy, Lyme Disease pathology
- Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common vectorborne disease in the northern hemisphere. It usually begins with erythema migrans; early disseminated infection particularly causes multiple erythema migrans or neurologic disease, and late manifestations predominantly include arthritis in North America, and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) in Europe. Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is based on characteristic clinical signs and symptoms, complemented by serological confirmation of infection once an antibody response has been mounted. Manifestations usually respond to appropriate antibiotic regimens, but the disease can be followed by sequelae, such as immune arthritis or residual damage to affected tissues. A subset of individuals reports persistent symptoms, including fatigue, pain, arthralgia, and neurocognitive symptoms, which in some people are severe enough to fulfil the criteria for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. The reported prevalence of such persistent symptoms following antimicrobial treatment varies considerably, and its pathophysiology is unclear. Persistent active infection in humans has not been identified as a cause of this syndrome, and randomized treatment trials have invariably failed to show any benefit of prolonged antibiotic treatment. For prevention of Lyme borreliosis, post-exposure prophylaxis may be indicated in specific cases, and novel vaccine strategies are under development., Competing Interests: Competing interests We have read and understood the BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare the following interests: none. Further details of The BMJ policy on financial interests are here: https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-authors/forms-policies-and-checklists/declaration-competing-interests, (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)
- Published
- 2020
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