Lyme disease IgM

• early localized infection -
• early disseminated
• late Lyme disease

Important for the first stages is the development around the bite site of the typical erythema migrans (reddening of the skin with an oval shape of 30-50 cm). Appears between 10-15 days after the bite. Mild flu-like symptoms, shooting pains along the course of the nerves, pain in the joints and muscles, transient disturbances in heart activity are possible. During the stage of early disseminated Lyme disease, the causative agent spreads through the blood and lymphatic system. Weeks or months after its onset, the disease appears with multiple lesions (rash), with arthritis, endo- or myocarditis, neuritis, meningitis, encephalitis. Months and even years after initial infection and lack of adequate treatment, the third stage of the disease - late Lyme borreliosis - develops. Acute arthritis becomes chronic and leads to severe ankylosis of the joint. A lesion typical of the disease develops - chronic acrodermatitis progressing to skin sclerosis and atrophy. The nervous system is affected and progresses to chronic encephalopathy as a result of chronic meningoencephalitis. Clinical examination, timely diagnosis and treatment are important to stop the infection in its initial stage. Etiological treatment includes an antibiotic course, which initially leads to a complete recovery of the patient. Left untreated, the disease shows a spontaneous reverse development, but there is a danger of persistence of the causative agent and progression of the disease. With laboratory proof of the causative agent, antibiotic treatment is mandatory! In one third of the patients, there is no history of a tick bite, but erythema is found! Two-thirds of patients with chronic forms (arthritis, neuritis) also do not report a bite in the past! For this reason, laboratory diagnostics is essential!