Lyme Arthritis: An Update for Clinical Practice

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2018 Aug;34(8):588-591. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000001576.

Abstract

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in North America, with the majority of cases occurring in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Lyme arthritis is the most prevalent manifestation of late-stage Lyme disease. Lyme arthritis typically presents as a monoarthritis or oligoarthritis in large joints such as the knee. Accompanying positive 2-tier Lyme serologies or polymerase chain reaction from synovial fluid/tissue is considered diagnostic for patients from an endemic area. The mainstay of initial treatment is a prolonged course of oral antibiotics.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Synovial Fluid / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents