Treatment of Lyme Disease Affecting the Cranial Nerves or Peripheral Nervous System
When Lyme disease involves the cranial nerves or the peripheral nervous system, it represents a distinct clinical presentation that calls for a specific antibiotic approach. This protocol applies to patients aged 9 years and over.
This protocol covers Lyme disease affecting the cranial nerves or peripheral nervous system in patients aged 9 years and over. Prompt recognition of neurological involvement and initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy are central to management.
Treatment Approach
Oral antibiotic therapy is the recommended approach for this presentation, with doxycycline or amoxicillin as the available options — the specific regimen, including age- and weight-based dosing guidance, is detailed in full in the structured protocol.
References
- Lyme disease affecting the cranial nerves or peripheral nervous system
- For adults and young people (aged 12 and over) diagnosed with Lyme disease, offer antibiotic treatment according to their symptoms as described in table 1.
- Oral doxycycline: 100 mg twice per day or 200 mg once per day for 21 days
- Oral amoxicillin: 1 g 3 times per day for 21 days
- Oral doxycycline for children under 45 kg: 5 mg/kg in 2 divided doses on day 1 followed by 2.5 mg/kg daily in 1 or 2 divided doses for a total of 21 days
- Oral amoxicillin for children 33 kg and under: 30 mg/kg 3 times per day for 21 days
- DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1215