[Recent information on tick-borne diseases (I)].

Tick-borne encephalitis (central European encephalitis) and Lyme disease (erythema chronicum migrans) are diseases mainly transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus species. The tick-borne encephalitis, a virus infection, can produce severe encephalitic symptoms. There is no specific treatment but the infection can be prevented by active or passive immunization. Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi). Due to the variety of often uncharacteristic symptoms this infection is not easily recognized. However, early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are necessary to prevent chronic damage to skin, joints, heart or nervous system.