Article ID: JJID.2013.462
Lyme borreliosis is one of the most common tick-borne infections in the northern hemisphere. However, the epidemiological features and clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Korea are unknown. This is the first study to investigate the characteristics of Lyme borreliosis in Korea. We traced suspected cases of Lyme borreliosis between 2005 and 2012. Of the 16 Lyme borreliosis patients identified, 11 patients had acquired autochthonous infection in Korea and 5 patients were infected outside Korea. Past exposure histories were investigated in 8 of the 11 patients with autochthonous infection. Five of 8 patients (62.5%) were suspected to be infected in northeastern alpine region. Clinically, 6 of 11 patients (54.5%) with autochthonous infection had early skin manifestations, 4 patients (36.4%) had neurologic manifestations, and one patient had acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. In conclusion, Lyme borreliosis could be endemic in the northeastern alpine region of Korea, and neurological manifestations as well as early skin manifestations could be the major clinical characteristics of autochthonous Lyme borreliosis in Korea.
