Yes, Lyme disease can indeed cause prolonged fatigue, weakness and difficulty concentrating, especially if the infection was previously treated late or inadequately. Inadequately selected or too short antibiotic therapy can also contribute to the bacteria persisting and the symptoms lasting longer.
Fatigue is common in the acute phase of the disease, and although symptoms usually improve after appropriate antibiotic treatment, some children may continue to experience symptoms such as poor concentration, exhaustion or sweating for months afterwards, as is the case with other infections.
There are several reasons why symptoms may persist in the long term:
- The antibiotic treatment was not properly tailored to the individual – there are several strains of Borrelia bacteria, which may have different sensitivities to antibiotics.
- There was no combination therapy – monotherapies are generally less effective at eradicating Borrelia bacteria.
- The therapy was not long enough – it is generally advisable to continue treatment for twice the generation cycle of the bacterium, i.e. for 6-8 weeks
- In addition to Borrelia infection, there is also a co-infection – Bartonella, Babesia
- The remaining symptoms are not caused by Borrelia
It is important that the child be thoroughly examined by the attending physician, a paediatrician familiar with Lyme disease, and, if necessary, checked for other causes of the symptoms.
(C) Lyme Borreliosis Foundation
