Lower Frequency of Multiple Erythema Migrans Skin Lesions in Lyme Reinfections, Europe

Abstract

The erythema migrans (EM) skin lesion is the most common clinical manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. Information about EM in Lyme borreliosis reinfection is limited. Of the 12,384 cases with diagnosed EM at an outpatient clinic during 1990–2014 in Slovenia, 1,962 (15.8%) cases occurred in patients who were treated previously for Lyme borreliosis, including 1,849 (94.2%) who had previously had EM. The percentage of reinfected patients who sought care with disseminated Lyme borreliosis at the time of reinfection, as manifested by multiple EM skin lesions, was significantly lower than for EM patients with no history of Lyme borreliosis (5.5% [108/1,962] vs. 7.4% [769/10,427]; p = 0.002). None of the clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Europe will completely protect against EM developing in patients in the future. The reoccurrence of Lyme borreliosis manifested by multiple EM lesions is significantly less likely than for patients with no history of Lyme borreliosis.