Lyme disease in the U.K.
By Linda on Feb 14, 2011 in Infections | comments(0)
Excerpt:
Lyme disease is rare in the U.K. but there is evidence of an increase in
both prevalence of, and patient concern about, the infection. There are no
published data characterising Lyme disease as it is seen in the U.K. The
clinical and laboratory features of 65 patients diagnosed with the disease
between 2002 and
2007 were recorded and their clinical presentation and response to treatment
documented. In total, 34% of patients acquired the infection in the UK, 20%
in North America and 46% in Europe. Exposure to ticks was reported by 58% of
patients. Erythema migrans was seen in 91%, systemic upset in 62%, headaches
in 31%, arthralgia or arthritis in 28%, radiculitis in 11% and cranial nerve
palsies in 4.6%. Screening enzyme immunoassay tests were negative in 39% and
reference laboratory immunoblots were negative in 31% of patients,
principally those with early infection. The majority of patients were cured
with one course of antibiotic treatment, three patients had evidence of
persistent infection after treatment and two required intravenous therapy.
No cases of chronic Lyme disease were seen.
