Lyme disease following a dog bite--was there a tick?
Lyme disease is the most common tick borne infection in temperate zones and the reported incidence of the condition is increasing. Erythema migrans is one of the few clinical signs of Lyme disease and is usually indicative of recently acquired infection. A case is presented of Lyme disease with erythema migrans which followed shortly after a dog bite. The author is not aware of any previously reported similar case. The author considers that the development of Lyme disease in the case was most likely due to a coincidental tick bite which was not noticed by the patient but an alternative possibility is that the disease was activated from a latent form. Patients with Lyme disease may not give a history of tick bite and clinicians should be aware of this.
Accident and Emergency Department, University of Wales, College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK. dcowen999@yahoo.co.uk
David
D
Owen
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline