Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases

Introduction: Lyme disease (LD), caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is mostly caused by bites of infected ticks. LD can affect multiple body systems or organs, and produce a broad range of symptoms. It typically involves the skin, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and the heart. A hi...

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Main Authors: Fatma SIRMATEL, Erdal POLAT, Şule Aydın TÜRKOĞLU
Format: Article
Language:Turkish
Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2015-12-01
Series:Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mjima.org/pdf.php?&id=58
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author Fatma SIRMATEL
Erdal POLAT
Şule Aydın TÜRKOĞLU
author_facet Fatma SIRMATEL
Erdal POLAT
Şule Aydın TÜRKOĞLU
author_sort Fatma SIRMATEL
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Lyme disease (LD), caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is mostly caused by bites of infected ticks. LD can affect multiple body systems or organs, and produce a broad range of symptoms. It typically involves the skin, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and the heart. A history of confirmed exposure to tick bites, in the patients who had typical signs and symptoms of Lyme borreliosis and positive antibody tests for B. burgdorferi antibodies are basis of the diagnosis. The treatment of LD is determined mainly by the clinical manifestations of the disease. Antibiotics may cure most cases of LD. The early and quick therapy may provide complete recovery. In this paper, seven patients with LD who had different clinical pictures are presented. The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge of the symptoms, clinical diagnosis and treatment of Lyme borreliosis. Materials and Methods: Seven patients with clinically and serologically confirmed LD who were admitted to our hospital in the past five years are presented. The patients clinically suggesting LD and whose serum specimens were positive for B. burgdorferi immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were evaluated. Results: Four female and three male patients aged 19-64 years, were found to have LD with different clinical conditions. One patient had early localized LD (Erythema migrans), one had late disseminated LD, and five patients had early disseminated LD. The patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics. Conclusion: LD is a serious zoonotic disease mimicking all types of clinical presentation that may be diagnosed serologically. LD should be kept in mind in patients with a history of tick bite and presenting with different clinical findings. Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be initiated after serological investigations.
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spelling doaj.art-a3f00f967bc24d3f8b8034528860b2f32023-02-15T16:17:56ZturGalenos YayineviMediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials2147-673X2015-12-01410.4274/mjima.2015.8Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven CasesFatma SIRMATEL0Erdal POLAT1Şule Aydın TÜRKOĞLU2Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Bolu, Türkiyeİstanbul Üniversitesi Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilm Dalı, İstanbul, TürkiyeAbant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesi, Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı, Bolu, TürkiyeIntroduction: Lyme disease (LD), caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is mostly caused by bites of infected ticks. LD can affect multiple body systems or organs, and produce a broad range of symptoms. It typically involves the skin, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and the heart. A history of confirmed exposure to tick bites, in the patients who had typical signs and symptoms of Lyme borreliosis and positive antibody tests for B. burgdorferi antibodies are basis of the diagnosis. The treatment of LD is determined mainly by the clinical manifestations of the disease. Antibiotics may cure most cases of LD. The early and quick therapy may provide complete recovery. In this paper, seven patients with LD who had different clinical pictures are presented. The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge of the symptoms, clinical diagnosis and treatment of Lyme borreliosis. Materials and Methods: Seven patients with clinically and serologically confirmed LD who were admitted to our hospital in the past five years are presented. The patients clinically suggesting LD and whose serum specimens were positive for B. burgdorferi immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were evaluated. Results: Four female and three male patients aged 19-64 years, were found to have LD with different clinical conditions. One patient had early localized LD (Erythema migrans), one had late disseminated LD, and five patients had early disseminated LD. The patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics. Conclusion: LD is a serious zoonotic disease mimicking all types of clinical presentation that may be diagnosed serologically. LD should be kept in mind in patients with a history of tick bite and presenting with different clinical findings. Appropriate antibiotic treatment should be initiated after serological investigations.http://www.mjima.org/pdf.php?&id=58Lyme diseasediagnosistherapyBorrelia burgdorfericlinical findingsTurkey
spellingShingle Fatma SIRMATEL
Erdal POLAT
Şule Aydın TÜRKOĞLU
Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases
Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials
Lyme disease
diagnosis
therapy
Borrelia burgdorferi
clinical findings
Turkey
title Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases
title_full Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases
title_fullStr Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases
title_full_unstemmed Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases
title_short Lyme Disease with Unknown Clinical Presentations: A Review of Seven Cases
title_sort lyme disease with unknown clinical presentations a review of seven cases
topic Lyme disease
diagnosis
therapy
Borrelia burgdorferi
clinical findings
Turkey
url http://www.mjima.org/pdf.php?&id=58
work_keys_str_mv AT fatmasirmatel lymediseasewithunknownclinicalpresentationsareviewofsevencases
AT erdalpolat lymediseasewithunknownclinicalpresentationsareviewofsevencases
AT suleaydınturkoglu lymediseasewithunknownclinicalpresentationsareviewofsevencases