[Appraisal of Lyme borreliosis]

Lyme borreliosis is due to infection with a tick-borne spirochete. The variety of signs and symptoms and also the laboratory tests of this multisystem illness often cause great problems in the appraisal of this disease. Frequently indispositions are associated with positive antibody tests for Borrelia burgdorferi. Terms as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome are often connected with the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Outdoor workers such as farmers, foresters, hunters, woodcutters and gamekeepers in areas of endemic disease take a great occupational risk of infection with borreliosis. In the German health and social insurance the appraisal of this disease is of great importance. Affected working people can receive financial compensation. Not only serological investigations with the presence of specific antibodies, but also clinical findings must be considered.