[Lyme disease in children].

Lyme disease is a vector-borne infectious disease affecting especially skin, nervous system, heart and joints. In the early stage of borrelia infection, asymptomatic course is possible. The causative agent, the spirochete Borrelia, is carried to the human body by tick. The bacteriological culture from blood, joint fluid or cerebrospinal fluid is very difficult. The laboratory diagnosis depends mainly on serological assays (ELISA, Western blot) and on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The treatment is based on antibiotic therapy - penicillin's and cephalosporins. The period of therapy depends on clinical form of borreliosis. Early tick removing is the best borreliosis prophylaxis.