title: Epidemiology of erythema migrans in north-eastern Poland.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate erythema migrans (EM) prevalence and treatment in north-eastern Poland during the last 25 years. The material for the study consisted of data sent to the Department of Dermatology by physicians from fifteen regional out-patient clinics. They were collected according to specially prepared questionnaires. The data were analysed with respect to the total number of EM cases, patients' age, seasonal prevalence of the disease, dynamics of its prevalence and treatment methods in successive years. Of the 262,421 case histories, retrospectively analysed 1235 EM cases (0.4%) were found. The age of the patients varied from 4 to 78 years. The highest incidence was observed between August and October (57.7% of all cases). The annual number of cases increased from only a few, in the years 1969-76, to over 436 in 1993. Penicillin or erythromycin were preferred for the treatment of EM before 1981, tetracycline or ampicillin between 1982-90, and amoxicillin or doxycycline in the last three years. Our results showed a significant increase in the number of EM cases in the dermatological clinics of north-eastern Poland in recent years. The treatment of the disease applied at present, complies with the generally accepted guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical Academy, Białystok.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chodynicka
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flisiak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015787:Erythema Chronicum Migrans / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution