Early Lyme disease – current clinical and epidemiological aspects in Braşov

Background Lyme disease, endemic in Europe, North America and Asia, is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. In the absence of a correct diagnosis and an early and appropriate treatment, it evolves in 3 stages: early localized stage (erythema migrans – present in the majority but not in all the patients – fever, fatigue, myalgia, headache, neck stiffness); early disseminated stage (secondary skin lesions and extra cutaneous manifestations, like muscular/skeletal and hematologic symptoms, less common cardiac disturbance); chronic disseminated stage (rheumatological and neurological manifestations, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans). The aim of this study was to analyze some epidemiological and clinical aspects in the early stage of Lyme disease in patients admitted into the Infectious Diseases Hospital of Braşov.