Lyme borreliosis in pediatric population: Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features

Abstract

Introduction: Lyme borreliosis (LB) in the paediatric population is an understudied entity with certain peculiarities. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of paediatric patients with LB, and their diagnostic and therapeutic processes.

Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study in patients up to 14 years old with suspected or confirmed LB between 2015 and 2021.

Results: A total of 21 patients were studied: 18 with confirmed LB (50% women; median age 6.4 years old) and 3 false positive of the serology. Clinical features in the 18 patients with LB were: neurological (3, neck stiffness; 6, facial nerve palsy), dermatological (6, erythema migratory), articular (1), and non-specific manifestations (5). Serological diagnosis was confirmatory in 83.3% of cases. A total of 94.4% patients received antimicrobial treatment (median duration, 21 days). All recovered with resolution of symptoms.

Conclusions: LB diagnosis is difficult in the paediatric population and presents clinical and therapeutic peculiarities, with favourable prognosis.

Keywords: Borreliosis; Borreliosis de Lyme; Enfermedad de Lyme; Lyme borreliosis; Lyme disease; Pediatrics; Pediatría; Serology; Serología.