Lyme borreliosis has in common features with another spirochetosis, syphilis, e.g. the development in three stages and the occurrence of reinfection and congenital infection. The European variant (erythema migrans disease in the broader sense) initially more often seems to have a mild course than in the United States, but lymphocytoma, Bannwarth syndrome and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans seem to be more common in Europe. Administration of tetracycline for stage 1 and of parenteral penicillin G in high doses for stages 2 and 3 and during pregnancy is recommended.