Epidemiological aspects of borreliosis in a hospital setting in Dakar, Senegal

In order to collect recent epidemiological data on Borrelia infection in ho spital settings, we conducted a retrospective study in the infectious Disea ses Ward in Dakar (Senegal). Over a period of 10 years (January 1987-Decemb er 1996), 31 cases were included: 18 from outpatient clinics and 13 inpatie nts. The cases were unequally distributed for years and occurred with a pea k in August (8/31). All patients lived in Dakar in populous areas. Females were more represented (sex ratio= 0.8) and 67.7% of the whole cases ranged 15-34 years. Clinical features of Borrelia infection were dominated by mala ria-like symptoms among outpatients, whilst neurological manifestations wer e prominent among inpatients. Treatment of the latter used three antibiotic s: tetracycline, chloramphenicol and erythromycine. No case-related fatalit y occurred. (C) 1999 Elsevier; Paris.