Lyme disease in New Jersey, 1978-1982.

From 1978 to 1982, 117 cases of Lyme disease were reported in New Jersey. The number of cases increased each year from four in 1978 and 1979 to 56 in 1982. Forty-eight percent of cases occurred in a four-township area in central Monmouth County. The proportion of cases with arthritis decreased in 1982 because of early antibiotic treatment and better reporting of milder cases. The proportion of cases with positive serology increased with severity of the clinical syndrome. About 25 percent of patients had exposure to ticks because of occupations that required outdoor activities. Lyme disease is a growing public health problem in New Jersey.