PEDIATRICS Vol. 96 No. 6 December 1995, pp. 1053-1056
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Neurologic Manifestations in Children With Lyme Disease

Peter M. Bingham MD1, Steven L. Galetta MD2, Balu Athreya MD3, and John Sladky MD1

1 Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2 Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3 Division of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Objective. Lyme disease (LD) is a tickborne spirochetal infection with a wide range of neurologic and non-neurologic manifestations. The clinical diversity of LD and limitations in serologic diagnosis often make it difficult to document the diagnosis of neurobor-reliosis with certainty.

Methods. We reviewed clinical manifestations in 97 seropositive children with particular attention to neurologic manifestafions. Diagnostic criteria used in other case surveys were applied to determine how often a definitive diagnosis of neuroborreliosis could be made in children.

Results. Of 69 children who met criteria for LD, 32% (22) had new neurologic signs, 73% (16) of which were accounted for by facial palsy and aseptic meningitis. Five of those with neurologic findings also had erythema migrans (EM), and one had both EM and arthritis. Among those with neurologic involvement, boys outnumbered girls two to one. Neurologic abnormalities resolved spontaneously in five children before their serologic results were known.

Conclusion. In our series, only 27% of children with neurologic abnormalities due to LD had a history of EM or arthritis. Seropositivity commonly constituted the primary basis for diagnosis of LD. Despite its nonspecificity, seropositivity for LD in children with neurologic symptoms usually signifies active neuroborreliosis.

Submitted on July 18, 1994
Accepted on January 30, 1995




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