Infectious diseases >>>> Erythema migrans - what is it?

Erythema migrans - what is it?

Erythema migrans is a skin manifestation of infection in the form of an inflamed lesion with a border, occupying a fairly large, but clearly limited area. Erythema migrans develops in connection with the bite of insects - carriers of the infection, and is a manifestation of the body's allergic reaction to the bite. In particular, erythema migrans occurs when a tick infected with borreliosis is bitten, and is one of the signs of this event, despite the fact that the patient himself may not have noticed the moment of the bite.

Erythema migrans refers to a type of allergic dermatosis that occurs against the background of an infection from an insect bite.

Signs of erythema migrans:

When bitten and gets into the deep subcutaneous layers through the lymphatic vessels of the infection, the body responds with sensitization and the release of inflammation markers into the blood, in this condition, the tissue around the bite site swells and rises, which looks like a swollen area of skin of a rounded pink-red color with a clear edging limiting the place inflammation of the tissue. Erythema migrans can develop in three stages if not treated effectively.

At the first stage, a pink-red spot appears, which after a while is resolved in the center, but can expand at the same time the border of coverage along the perimeter of the edging, increasing the area of the lesion. If the process is not stopped, the infection (borrelia) continues to enter the lymphatic and circulatory system, causing extensive seeding of the body. Erythematous patches begin to appear in multiple locations. Skin rashes are accompanied by general intoxication of the body, headaches, high fever, neurological disorders, and may resemble meningitis in symptoms.

In the third stage of the process, with erythema migrans, the infection affects the joints (causes swelling), the functions of which are impaired up to the limitation of movement.

Erythema migrans can be identified by its typical appearance, but the results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed 21 days after the bite are also used for diagnosis to detect antibodies to borrelia. They also use indirect fluorescence to confirm infection.

Treatment of erythema migrans (borreliosis) is carried out with antibacterial drugs (cephalosporins, tetracycline series or penicillins). In successful treatment, the virulence of the infectious agent and its susceptibility to antibiotics are important. Along with antimicrobial therapy, the body is desensitized; in difficult cases, glucocorticosteroids are used.