Lyme disease

F. W. Bruhn

Lyme disease is a newly recognized disease with diverse but characteristic inflammatory manifestations that involve the skin, joints, heart, and CNS. The illness develops following the bite of the Ixodes tick and is caused by a Treponema-like spirochete. This article reviews the causal, epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory features of this illness. Since a large number of patients described with this treatable disease have been children and the disease may be confused with other more serious illnesses, Lyme disease is worthy of the pediatrician's awareness.