Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a nosological unit characterized by numerous pitfalls not only as regards identification of clinical symptoms but also as regards assessment of the definite diagnosis. The authors describe general diagnostic principles of LB and their limitations.
Due to considerable frequency of ticks and the marked colonization of ticks in particular in some regions of the Czech Republic the high percentage of the population with positive evidence of specific antibodies is not surprising. With regard to the contemporary general availability of examinations by ELISA Lyme method and the still persisting inadequate information of the medical public in particular as regards first line physicians the number of patients referred and frequently already treated with anitbiotics because of suspection of the disease is rising., while it is based in many cases only positive evidence of antibodies.
This has not only a psychological impact on these "patients" but also a not negligible economic impact. The presented paper focuses attention not only on the definition and basic description of clinicalforms of Lyme borreliosis but in particular on contemporary possibilities of evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) whereby the urgency of comprehensive approach is emphasized.