Tick-borne lymphadenopathy, an emerging disease

Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) is a spotted fever group disease characterized by an eschar and pronounced enlarged lymph nodes after a scalp tick bite. The goal of this synopsis is to review the TIBOLA literature published until May 2013: Forty-one articles (reporting 537 cases) were included. There was a predominance of cases in females and young people. Spain, France, and Hungary reported the majority of cases, and they were mainly reported in the colder seasons. The involved tick bite was frequently on the scalp. Rickettsia slovaca was the most frequent identified bacterium and Dermacentor marginatus the most frequently identified vector. The most prescribed antibiotic was doxycycline. TIBOLA has the potential to emerge outside Europe: improving knowledge of TIBOLA may promote early symptoms recognition and may allow early treatment.