[Early diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis]

The local inflammatory reaction following a tick bite varies considerably, so that in particular the frequently atypical variations result in a wrong diagnosis and thus to inappropriate treatment. If a tick bite is followed within three weeks by flue-like or neurological symptoms, or joint swelling in the vicinity of the bite, a serological investigation work-up should be carried out. In the early stage, however, Borrelia-specific antibodies can be detected in only 30-80% of the patients. However, during the further course of the illness, the specific IgM and IgG antibody titers almost always increase.