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Published on: February 4, 2018
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Lyme disease in Poland - A serious problem?
Piotr Czupryna1, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska1, Sławomir Pancewicz1
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
Advances in Medical Sciences
|December 8, 2015
Summary
Lyme disease (LD) diagnosis in Poland may be inflated by overreporting, with nonspecific pain often leading to hospitalization. Better diagnostic tests are needed, especially for patients with musculoskeletal symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Lyme disease (LD) incidence has shown a notable increase in Poland.
- Accurate diagnosis of LD is crucial for effective patient management and public health surveillance.
- Understanding the clinical presentation and diagnostic challenges is essential in endemic regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized with suspected Lyme disease (LD).
- To investigate potential reasons for the recent surge in LD incidence in Poland.
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy for LD, particularly in cases presenting with musculoskeletal pain.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for patients hospitalized with suspected LD in 2013.
- Data collection included patient demographics, symptoms, clinical forms, and final diagnoses.
- A survey was administered to patients diagnosed with LD and chronic joint pain unresponsive to antibiotics.
Main Results:
- Out of 378 patients admitted with suspected LD, confirmed diagnoses included Neuroborreliosis (NB) in 10/42 and Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) in 5 cases.
- Among patients with joint pain, Lyme arthritis (LA) was diagnosed in 4, active infection suspected in 174, and no active infection found in 153.
- Many surveyed patients had a BMI over 25 and co-existing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Conclusions:
- The reported rise in LD incidence in Poland may be influenced by overreporting and overdiagnosis.
- Nonspecific musculoskeletal and joint pain are frequent reasons for LD suspicion and hospitalization.
- Improved diagnostic tests are necessary for confirming active LD, especially in patients with musculoskeletal pain, given the high seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies.
