La borréliose de Lyme

Lyme borreliosis is caused by spirochaetes which are transmitted by ticks. The most common clinical manifestation is erythema migrans. The infecting pathogen can spread to other tissues and organs, including the nervous system, the joints, and the skin. Laboratory evidence of infection, mainly serology, is essential for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis, except in the case of typical erythema migrans. The treatment requires the use of one of the following antibiotic families: β-lactams, tetracyclines or macrolides. Cases are usually treated with antibiotics for 2-4 weeks, depending on the stage of the disease. Along with tick bite prevention, the most reliable prevention strategy relies, in case of tick bite exposure, on careful examination of the skin and rapid withdrawal of ticks.