Borreliosis In Children

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Borreliosis in children

Borreliosis in children is a rather rare disease, so it may not be immediately recognized. And this is doubly dangerous. Numerous pediatricians in our country are not always able to quickly identify this disease. Therefore, you should pass the necessary tests at the first possible signs.

Some people believe that encephalitis and borreliosis are synonymous with the same disease. However, such different diseases should not be confused. In some ways they are probably similar, but in fact they are completely different. In Russia, Ukraine and many other CIS countries, borreliosis rarely manifests itself. However, over the past ten years, cases of tick bites infected with borreliosis have increased somewhat. This disease is a consequence of a tick bite, therefore it is also known as tick-borne borreliosis.

An interesting and important fact is that not only ticks are the causative agents and carriers of borreliosis. It can be spread through sheep, dogs, birds, cattle, rodents, and white-tailed deer. But it is not easy to identify pathogens in animals, since the tick is very small and is usually found in folds of the skin. And if it happens that a person is not always able to quickly detect borreliosis, then what can we say about young children, whose symptoms are often blurred.

It is known that Borrelia were found in birds of the passerine family, and ticks were transported long distances to other regions on migrating birds. But not all ticks are infected with borrelia, so a tick bite is not a guarantee of 100% disease. After being bitten, the tick should be carefully removed from the victim's skin and must be sent to identify the bacteria he has.

Often, ticks live in areas where the microclimate is temperate. This is a zone of mixed forests, shrubs up to one meter in height. Ticks live for about two years: males - before mating (after that they die), females are adapted to frost and adapted to their habitat. That is why adults and especially small children can easily meet for a walk even in city parks.

In case of infection of a pregnant woman with borreliosis, there may be the most unexpected consequences. Research has shown that there is always a chance of spontaneous miscarriage. In addition, the unborn child may develop a dangerous heart defect. Borrelia pass from mother to fetus, although there is not a single case of tissue damage or inflammation. Based on this, it is difficult to say whether the outcome for the fetus will be favorable or not. Antibiotics are prescribed for pregnant women who have borreliosis.

The period of illness with borreliosis occurs in the summer months, when ticks are most active. The presence of a pet increases the risk of the disease several times, since there is a possibility of infection not only with borreliosis, but also with tick-borne encephalitis, since the ticks infected with these infections live in the same zones.

The clinical picture of borreliosis in children

The main signs of borreliosis in young children and adolescents are headache, body aches, fever, weakness, neuralgia, nausea, ringing in the ears, arthritis, lack of oxygen, hearing loss, and swelling of the lower extremities. In some cases, a severe rash appears in the area of the bite.

In more severe cases, there is arrhythmia, dizziness, speech impairment, poor concentration, and stuttering. Complications may include depression, mood swings, hallucinations, and facial paralysis. Symptoms are different and because of this, the diagnosis is often delayed or simply the wrong diagnosis is made, and the wrong antibiotics are prescribed.

There have been cases when borrelia were found in the kidneys, bladder, lymph glands, and on the skin. Due to the fact that the symptoms of borreliosis are often temporary memory loss, stuttering, poor awareness of reality, it is not easy for specialists to identify this disease, especially in children, as well as in the elderly.

Today there are a number of tests for specific antibodies for children and adults, which help to determine the presence or absence of borreliosis disease. however, before receiving the results of the test, some doctors, if they suspect this disease, recommend starting taking vitamins and special drugs to maintain immunity in order to prevent serious complications.

A new test "Q-RiBb" has now been developed, which detects not antibodies, but antigens. The inventors of this test claim that it is more reliable and faster than previous antibody tests.

When confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the necessary modern antibiotics in the required dosages, depending on the age of a particular child. An alternative to antibiotics for very young children is natural herbal remedies or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Do not forget, upon the fact of a tick bite and with the appearance of certain signs of lesions on the skin, in order to exclude the diagnosis of borreliosis, it is recommended to immediately begin treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".