A New Bootstrap Method for Risk Assessment ofExposure to Lyme Disease

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis, now the most common vector-borne illness in North America, may involve cardiac manifestations as atrioventricular block, myopericarditis, and rhythm disturbances. The overall prognosis of Lyme carditis is good, but temporary cardiac pacing may be required and late dilated cardiomyopathy may occur. Borreliosis should be suspected in all patients with unexplained cardiac symptoms (supraventricular tachiarrhythmia and especially in atrioventricular block of unknown origin in young patients) who have been exposed in regions invaded by the epidemic. Risk assessment of exposure to bites of infected ticks is thus needed for prevention and accurate diagnosis of borreliosi