Author/Editor		Maraspin-Čarman, V; Strle, F; Cimperman, J; Lotrič-Furlan, S
Title		Treatment of Lyme borreliosis
Type		članek
Source		Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannon Adriat
Vol. and No.		Letnik 3, št. 1-2
Publication year		1994
Volume		str. 127-31
Language		eng
Abstract		Lyme borreliosis is a multi system disease, which is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by Ixodes ticks. In this article treatment with antibiotics in patients with Lyme borreliosis at the University Department of Infectious Diseases in Ljubljana is presented. In the early localized disease, which is characterized by erythema migrans and often associated with flu-like symptoms, patients are treated orally with doxycycline, tetracycline, amoxycillin, azithromycin, phenoxymethylpenicillin or erythromycin. The treatment lasts two weeks, with the exception of azithromycin, which is prescribed for five days. For the manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in the second stage (cardiac, neurologic and joint involvement) and third stage (acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, neuroborreliosis, arthritis) intravenous treatment with antibiotics, currently with ceftriaxone or benzylpenicillin, is used. The exception are patients with mild cardiac involvement (first degree A-V block) who are treated with oral antibiotics. Patients with Bell's palsy and pregnant women with erythema migrans are treated with intravenous antibiotics. Prophylactic treatment after tick bites is not recomended.
Descriptors		LYME DISEASE ANTIBIOTICS