Pregnancy Among Reported Lyme Disease Cases-United States, 1992-2019

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Lyme disease (LD) is the most common U.S. vector-borne illness, often presenting with an erythema migrans (EM) rash.
• Untreated LD can lead to severe cardiac, joint, or neurological issues.
• Previous LD surveillance data lacked details on pregnancy-related cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the frequency, demographics, and clinical characteristics of LD cases during pregnancy.
• To compare LD cases in pregnant versus non-pregnant females.

Main Methods:

• Utilized U.S. CDC surveillance data from 1992-2019.
• Defined LD cases during pregnancy based on sex, age (14-49 years), and pregnancy status.
• Compared clinical manifestations and seasonality between pregnant and non-pregnant females.

Main Results:

• Out of 698,876 LD cases, 643 were reported during pregnancy (0.6%).
• LD onset in pregnant individuals peaked in June, slightly earlier than non-pregnant females (July).
• Pregnant individuals with confirmed LD were more likely to present with only the EM rash (66% vs. 60%).

Conclusions:

• LD cases during pregnancy are infrequent.
• Pregnant individuals may exhibit earlier clinical signs of LD, potentially due to increased healthcare engagement.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of LD in pregnancy are vital to prevent severe maternal and fetal complications.