The aim of the study was to evaluate relationship between clinical picture of Lyme disease and risk of Borrelia burgdorferi infection, expressed as an exposure to ticks in an endemic area of the disease.
Methods: Questionnaires regarding frequency of tick bites, symptoms of the disease in an acute phase and symptoms likely associated with previous infection were collected from 131 residents of Białowieza village, who suffered from Lyme disease in the past.
Results: Lower prevalence of erythema migrans and significantly higher prevalence of arthritis was demonstrated in the group of persons with the highest frequency of tick bites. Evaluation of symptoms that can be related to previous Lyme disease showed significant increase of arthralgia, myalgia, ischialgia, sleep and concentration difficulties in persons with higher frequency of tick bites.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate, that multiple exposures to B. burgdorferi promote manifestation of the disease in the form of arthritis, and less frequently lead to the development of erythema migrans.