A Bit Of Reassurance On Lyme Disease

Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 06 May 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Tick bites generate fears of Lyme disease in every parent, but this study of 99 children finds that one of Lyme's complications -- arthritis -- has a good prognosis. Researchers led by Robert Sundel, MD, a rheumatologist at Children's, found that 77 percent of children were cured with less than 3 months of antibiotic treatment. The remainder were also ultimately relieved of their arthritis, though additional treatment (usually one month of intravenous antibiotics) was required. As long as children were treated until joint inflammation was fully controlled, there were no long-term problems.

Children's Hospital Boston is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 500 scientists, including eight members of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 members of the Institute of Medicine and 12 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children's Hospital Boston today is a 397-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children's also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information about the hospital and its research visit: http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom.

Children's Hospital Boston