[Lyme disease: prophylaxis after tick bite].
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by infected ticks. The transmission depends on several factors, especially on the duration of the tick's presence in the host body (the nymph which is smaller than the adults and thus less visible, is in this case the most frequently involved) and on whether the tick is infected or not. The interpretation of results in the few available studies is made difficult by the lack of information obtained (due to difficulty to collect information and examination costs). The comparison is made even more difficult by the difference between Borrelia ticks species in various regions. Today, the best methods are preventive: protective clothing, tick repellents, checking and removal of ticks after a journey in an endemic zone, and in case of tick bite, regular examination of the bite site during the following weeks in order to initiate an early curative treatment if ECM is diagnosed. The currently available data seems to be insufficient to suggest systematic antimicrobial prophylaxis in case of tick bite.
Patey
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Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, groupe études épidémiologique et prophylactique, CHI de Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, 94195 Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France. olivier.patey@chiv.fr
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000382:microbiology*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents