PEDIATRICS Vol. 90 No. 4 October 1992, pp. 523-528
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sigal, L. H.
Right arrow Articles by Patella, S. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sigal, L. H.
Right arrow Articles by Patella, S. J.

Lyme Arthritis as the Incorrect Diagnosis in Pediatric and Adolescent Fibromyalgia

Leonard H. Sigal MD1 and Sondra J. Patella RN, BSN2

1 From the Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick
2 From the Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick

In areas endemic for Lyme disease there is increasing concern and anxiety about possible chronic and untreatable manifestations of the disease. The authors have diagnosed fibromyalgia in many patients with chronic musculoskeletal complaints in whom chronic Lyme arthritis had previously been diagnosed as the cause of their joint pains. Fibromyalgia is a common disorder, causing arthralgia (not true arthritis), fatigue, and debility. The repeated and/or long-term antibiotic therapy prescribed for "chronic Lyme disease" is not successful in curing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Especially in areas where anxiety about Lyme disease is great, it is important to be careful in diagnosing chronic Lyme disease. Fibromyalgia is a potentially treatable and curable cause of chronic complaints and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of "refractory Lyme arthritis."

Key Words: fibromyalgia • Lyme disease • Lyme arthritis • Lyme neurologic disease • sleep disorder

Submitted on January 13, 1992
Accepted on March 10, 1992




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 NEJMHome page
H. M. Feder Jr., B. J.B. Johnson, S. O'Connell, E. D. Shapiro, A. C. Steere, G. P. Wormser, and the Ad Hoc International Lyme Disease Group
A Critical Appraisal of "Chronic Lyme Disease"
N. Engl. J. Med., October 4, 2007; 357(14): 1422 - 1430.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Int J EpidemiolHome page
L. H Sigal and A. L Hassett
Commentary: 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' Shakespeare W. Romeo and Juliet, II, ii(47-48)
Int. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2005; 34(6): 1345 - 1347.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN INTERN MEDHome page
L. H. Sigal
Misconceptions about Lyme Disease: Confusions Hiding behind Ill-Chosen Terminology
Ann Intern Med, March 5, 2002; 136(5): 413 - 419.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JAMAHome page
E. G. Seltzer, M. A. Gerber, M. L. Cartter, K. Freudigman, and E. D. Shapiro
Long-term Outcomes of Persons With Lyme Disease
JAMA, February 2, 2000; 283(5): 609 - 616.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
P N Malleson
Management of childhood arthritis. Part 1: acute arthritis
Arch. Dis. Child., May 1, 1997; 76(5): 460 - 462.
[Full Text]