Cerebellar ataxia as the presenting manifestation of lyme disease

Ravit Arav-Boger, Thomas Crawford, Allen C. Steere, Neal A. Halsey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 7-year-old boy from suburban Baltimore who presented with cerebellar ataxia and headaches was found by magnetic resonance imaging to have multiple cerebellar enhancing lesions. He had no history of tick exposure. He was initially treated with steroids for presumptive postinfectious encephalitis. Lyme disease was diagnosed 10 weeks later after arthritis developed. Testing of the cerebrospinal fluid obtained at the time cerebellar ataxia was diagnosed revealed intrathecal antibody production to Borrelia burgdorferi. Treatment with intravenous antibiotics led to rapid resolution of persistent cerebellar findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)353-356
Number of pages4
JournalPediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Volume21
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Arthritis
  • Cerebellar ataxia
  • Cerebellar tumor
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Lyme disease
  • Neuroborreliosis
  • Pediatrics
  • Postviral infection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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