Background: In the majority of patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), neurological symptoms are transient. The extent of neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric problems in children is not well researched.
Objectives: The study aimed to investigate cognitive functions and behavioral problems in children after LNB.
Patients and methods: A total of 20 children between 6 and 16 years of age with an episode of LNB at least 4 month before neuropsychological testing were enrolled in the study and compared with 20 healthy controls. Children with LNB had cranial nerve palsies or meningoencephalitis, immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies for Borrelia burgdorferi in the peripheral blood, pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (leukocytes > 10 cells/μL) and/or an intrathecal synthesis of antibodies for B. burgdorferi.Neuropsychological tests assessing intellectual skills, memory, and executive functions were used. Two parental questionnaires assessing behavior, psychiatric problems, and executive functions were administered.
Results: Intellectual skills, memory, and executive functions of children after an episode of LNB were within the normal range. In the subcategory of working memory, children after an episode of LNB performed worse than controls. The questionnaires did not reveal behavior or psychiatric problems, although there was a tendency that children after an episode of LNB had more physical complaints.
Conclusion: Neuropsychological deficits resulting from LNB in childhood are rare. Most children had a good cognitive, emotional, and behavioral outcome.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.