[Suspected borreliosis - what's behind it?].

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

Borreliosis may be associated with unspecific symptoms and thus not only cause difficulties in diagnosis but also lead to overdiagnosis.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Data on 134 patients (mean age 47 [12 - 78] years, 51.5 % male) with suspected borreliosis presenting at the university hospital Regensburg were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The majority of patients had been adequately treated for borreliosis previously. 34 patients (25.4 %) had proven or possible borreliosis, 20 patients (14.9 %) presented for consultation only. Regarding the remaining 80 patients (59.7 %), in 36 (45 %) a rheumatologic, orthopedic or neurologic disease was found as causal for the presenting symptoms, in 44 (55 %) no somatic disease could be diagnosed.

CONCLUSION

A careful differential diagnosis seems mandatory in patients with suspected borreliosis and persistent complaints.