Pediatric Acute Longitudinal Extensive Transverse Myelitis Secondary to Neuroborreliosis

Case Rep Neurol. 2015 Jul 29;7(2):162-6. doi: 10.1159/000438696. eCollection 2015 May-Aug.

Abstract

Lyme neuroborreliosis has several different clinical manifestations in children, of which facial nerve palsies, meningitis and radiculopathies are the most common. Transverse myelitis (TM) secondary to Lyme disease has been reported in rare occasions, typically presenting with severe weakness, sensory abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction. We present the case of a 16-year-old male who developed acute left peripheral facial palsy and longitudinal extensive TM secondary to Lyme disease. Remarkably, the patient reported only mild symptoms with severe back pain in the absence of profound signs of myelopathy. We reviewed the medical literature and analyzed the clinical features of pediatric patients with Borrelia burgdorferi-related TM.

Keywords: Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis; Lyme disease; Myelopathy; Transverse myelitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports