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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
[Clinical manifestations of 30 cases with Lyme disease]
1Department of Pediatrics, Inner Mongolia Forest Hospital, Yakeshi City, 022150, China.
Insights
Pediatric Lyme disease in children typically presents with erythema migrans and can affect multiple organ systems. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, such as penicillin, lead to favorable outcomes without lasting effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Understanding its clinical presentation in children is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
- This study focuses on pediatric Lyme disease cases in Inner Mongolia.
Purpose:
- To elucidate the clinical characteristics of Lyme disease in pediatric patients.
- To analyze factors influencing onset, incubation period, and manifestations.
- To evaluate treatment response in children.
Summary:
- A review of 30 pediatric Lyme disease cases revealed a 1-14 day incubation period.
- Erythema migrans was universal, with frequent upper respiratory and occasional cardiac, joint, ocular, or neurological symptoms.
- All patients tested positive for IgG antibodies, and penicillin or cefazolin treatment was effective.
Impact:
- Highlights the diverse clinical spectrum of Lyme disease in children.
- Emphasizes the importance of recognizing erythema migrans and associated symptoms.
- Demonstrates effective treatment options and positive patient outcomes.
Objective:
To understand the clinical characteristics of Lyme disease in children.
Methods:
Case records of 30 children with Lyme disease who were admitted to the pediatric department of Forest Hospital, Inner Mongolia from May 1995 to Oct. 2000, were reviewed. Twenty-one cases were male and 9 were female. Their age ranged from 2 to 14 years. The possible factors associated with the onset, incubation period, clinical manifestations of the organ systems and response to treatment were analyzed.
Results:
Each of the 30 cases had a history of tick bite for one time or more. The incubation period was 1 to 14 days. All of them were hospitalized for typical erythema migrans. Among the 30 cases, 21 (70%) showed symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection; 4 (13%) showed circulatory system symptom and manifestations of myocardial lesion; 3 (10%) had joint pain; 1 case (3%) had eye symptom and another case (3%) had nervous system symptoms, such as headache, vomiting, drowsiness, neck stiffness and so on. EEG and spinal fluid test showed some abnormal results. All the 30 cases were positive for IgG antibody to Lyme spirochetes with titers higher than 1:128. Penicillin or cefazolin was effective in treatment of the patients.
Conclusion:
The incubation period of the disease observed among this series of patients was 1-14 d. Lyme disease in this group of patients involved multiple organ systems while erythema migrans and arthralgia were the most frequently seen manifestations. Most of the patients had a favorable outcome with no sequelae.
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