Erythema Migrans–like Illness in the Caribbean | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 16, Number 10–October 2010
Volume 16, Number 10–October 2010
Dispatch
Erythema Migrans–like Illness among Caribbean Islanders

Anu Sharma Comments to Author, Sarada Jaimungal, Khamedaye Basdeo-Maharaj, A.V. Chalapathi Rao, and Surujpaul Teelucksingh
Author affiliation: University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Erythema migrans is the skin manifestation of Lyme disease and southern tick-associated rash illness. Neither disease is found in the Caribbean. We report 4 cases of erythema migrans of a possible emerging clinical entity, Caribbean erythma migrans–like illness.

Erythema migrans (EM), the pathognomonic rash for Lyme disease (LD), occurs in »90% of cases (1). During the past 30 years, an LD-like illness has been described in the southeastern and south-central United States (2). This illness resembles LD clinically, but patients show no evidence of infection with the etiologic agent of LD, Borrelia burgdorferi (2) or sequelae of LD (2). This clinical syndrome is called southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). The vector for STARI is not found in the Caribbean. However, we report 4 cases of EM-like lesions in Caribbean Island residents.

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Erythema Migrans–like Illness in the Caribbean | CDC EID

Suggested Citation for this Article

Sharma A, Jaimungal S, Basdeo-Maharaj K, Chalapathi Rao AV, Teelucksingh S. Erythema migrans–like illness among Caribbean Islanders. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Oct [date cited].
http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/10/1615.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1610.100587