Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a disease whose aetiology has only been uncovered relatively recently. The causative agent the spirochetal bacteria genus Borrelia - was discovered in the 1980's.
Lyme borreliosis is relatively common in the Czech Republic. Its clinical picture is very diverse; therefore, physicians from a variety of specialisations may encounter patients with this illness.
Usually, classic symptoms are not difficult to diagnose; however, findings in many patients are not so clear cut, thus deciding if the patient does or does not have the disease is much more difficult. Particularly the later stages of Lyme borreliosis, from this perspective, present special difficulty.
There are a whole range of diagnostic tests for determining if the cause of the patient's condition is the presence of active Lyme borreliosis or something else. Nevertheless, it is necessary to state here at the beginning that even specialists in the disease are not always completely sure about a diagnosis in the initial examination of the patient.
Often it is only after further course of treatment and its effects that a truly clear diagnosis can be reached. diagnostic, treatment, prevention.
