Lyme borreliosis – state of the knowledge among medical students

Abstract

Introduction and Objective. Lyme disease (LD) is becoming a serious problem worldwide. It is a bacterial infection caused by Gram-negative spirochaetes Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato which are spread by tick bite, and are recognized as one of the most important tick-borne diseases. People spending time in the forests, meadows, and parks, or working in such environments are endangered to tick bites, which may cause the infection. Even though not each one of the parasites carries the disease, the illness itself is a serious condition and can simulate many other diseases, which is why it is often called ‘the great imitator’. Therefore, it is very important to know the early symptoms of LD, as it can be cured effectively by antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine whether young adults have sufficient knowledge regarding LD, how often tick bites occur within this population, and how many of them have been diagnosed with the illness in the past. Materials and method. Data was collected with the use of a survey completed by 201 first-year medical students. Results. The majority of the students had basic knowledge regarding the etiology, symptoms, and vectors of LD. There is a necessity to improve knowledge in the field of treatment, prophylaxis, and tick removal techniques. Half of the study participants had been bitten by a tick and some of them were diagnosed with LD. Conclusions. Most of the participants reported a tick bite in the past, and/or confirmed an infection. The awareness level regarding the sickness needs to be improved in some aspects, with the use of social campaigns or advertisements. This would help with better recognition of the disease in the future.