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[Clinical course of borreliosis in children]
Arkadiusz Andrzejewski1, Teresa Woźniakowska-Gesicka, Krystyna Kmieć
1III Klinika Pediatrii Instytutu Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki, Łodzi.
Insights
Borrelia burgdorferi infection in children primarily affects the nervous system, with symptoms like fever and headache. Early disease stages were more common, unlike in adults.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Neuroborreliosis
- Lyme disease epidemiology
Context:
- Study focuses on Borrelia burgdorferi infection in 45 children (aged 2-16) from the Łódź region.
- Analysis highlights the clinical presentation and epidemiological characteristics of Lyme disease in pediatric patients.
- Investigates the prevalence of nervous system involvement and other symptoms in affected children.
Purpose:
- To describe the clinical picture of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in children.
- To identify the most common symptoms and affected systems in pediatric neuroborreliosis.
- To compare the disease manifestations in children with those typically observed in adults.
Summary:
- Central and peripheral nervous system involvement was observed in 44.4% of cases, with peripheral cranial nerve paralysis and cerebrospinal meningitis being common in neuroborreliosis.
- Unspecific symptoms like fever (20%) and headache (13.3%) were frequent. Dermatosis and arthritis were rare (1 child and 2 children, respectively).
- Most cases presented with symptoms consistent with early (I and II) stages of Lyme disease. Tick contact was reported in 52% of children, with year-round incidence peaking in summer and autumn.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the specific clinical manifestations of Lyme disease in children, particularly neuroborreliosis.
- Highlights the differences in disease progression between pediatric and adult populations.
- Informs pediatricians and public health officials about the seasonality and common symptoms, aiding in earlier diagnosis and management of pediatric Lyme disease.
Abstract:
Clinical picture of Borrelia burgdorferi infection has been presented in 45 children, aged 2-16 years from Łódź region. The analysis showed significant domination of cases with affected central and peripheral nervous system (44.4%) and rather unspecific symptoms such as: fever (20%) or headache (13.3%). Peripheral cranial nerves paralysis and symptoms of cerebrospinal meningitis dominated among children with neuroborreliosis. Unlike descriptions concerning adults, majority of the observed symptoms were changes characteristic for I and II stage of the disease. Dermatosis was found only in 1 child and symptoms of arthritis in 2 of them. Contact with tick was stated in 52% of the analysed children. Incidence of the disease occurred throughout the whole year, more frequently in summer and autumn months.