Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36997691›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2024

Pediatric Lyme disease: systematic assessment of post-treatment symptoms and quality of life.

Maureen Monaghan, Stephanie Norman, Marcin Gierdalski, Adriana Marques, James E Bost, Roberta L DeBiasi

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Informed Consent for Pediatric Lyme Meningitis Study: In-Person Versus Remote Approach.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Observational
  4. Review
  5. Chronic meningitis: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Current opinion in infectious diseases · 2025
    Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Maureen MonaghanDivisions of Psychology and Behavioral Health, Washington, DC, USA.
Stephanie NormanCenter for Translational Research, Children's Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
Marcin GierdalskiDepartment of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Adriana MarquesLaboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
James E BostDepartment of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Roberta L DeBiasiDepartment of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA. rdebiasi@childrensnational.org.
George Washington University · USChildren’s Institute · USChildren's National · USNational Institutes of Health · US

Funding

Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Childrens NationalUL1TR001876 · NCATS · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI BELL, MICHAEL J · 2016 to 2021
$25.6M
Assessment Of Patients With Borrelia InfectionZIAAI000695 · NIAID · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES · PI MARQUES, ADRIANA R · 2009 to 2025
$8.8M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001876
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLyme disease is common among children and adolescents. Antibiotic treatment is effective, yet some patients report persistent symptoms following treatment, with or without functional impairment. This study characterized long-term outcome of pediatric patients with Lyme disease and evaluated the case definition of post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) syndrome.

methodsThe sample included 102 children with confirmed Lyme disease diagnosed 6 months-10 years prior to enrollment (M = 2.0 years). Lyme diagnosis and treatment information was extracted from the electronic health record; parent report identified presence, duration, and impact of symptoms after treatment. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing health-related quality of life, physical mobility, fatigue, pain, and cognitive impact.

resultsMost parents reported their child's symptoms resolved completely, although time to full resolution varied. Twenty-two parents (22%) indicated their child had at least one persistent symptom >6 months post-treatment, 13 without functional impairment (PTLD symptoms) and 9 with functional impairment (PTLD syndrome). Children with PTLD syndrome had lower parent-reported Physical Summary scores and greater likelihood of elevated fatigue.

conclusionsIn the current study, most children with Lyme disease experienced full resolution of symptoms, including those who initially met PTLD syndrome criteria. Effective communication about recovery rates and common symptoms that may persist post-treatment is needed. IMPACT: The majority of pediatric patients treated for all stages of Lyme disease reported full resolution of symptoms within 6 months. 22% of pediatric patients reported one or more symptom persisting >6 months, 9% with and 13% without accompanying functional impairment. Effective communication with families about recovery rates and common symptoms that may persist post-treatment of Lyme disease is needed.

Indexed as

Lyme DiseaseQuality of LifeAdolescentAnti-Bacterial AgentsChildFatigueHumansPainAnti-Bacterial Agents

Identifiers

PMID36997691
OpenAlexW4362457852

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.