[Reinfection in Lyme borreliosis]

Persons exposed to tick bites in endemic areas of Lyme borreliosis are at high risk of repeated infections with Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Typically, recurrent episodes of Lyme borreliosis present as erythema migrans, but systemic manifestations, like borrelial arthritis and meningitis, have been described. Differentiating reinfection from relapse or chronic sequelae of primary infection should be possible on the basis of epidemiological data, clinical course and careful interpretation of serologic tests results. In case of reinfection, antibiotic treatment should be administered.