March 8, 2026

Sudden Behavioral Changes in Children With Lyme Disease Lyme disease can cause sudden behavioral symptoms in children, including irritability, aggression, anxiety, and oppositional behavior. These changes may appear abruptly in children who previously functioned well at home and in school. After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I have treated middle and high school students whose […]

Tick-Borne Infections in Infants: Lyme Disease and Babesia Lyme disease in infants is rarely discussed in the medical literature, in part because diagnosis can be difficult. Infants cannot describe symptoms such as headache, dizziness, or fatigue, and physical examination findings may be subtle. In addition, current testing methods may be less reliable early in infection.

Lyme Arthritis in Children Lyme arthritis in children is one of the most common late manifestations of Lyme disease. It typically develops weeks to months after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium transmitted by tick bites. Lyme arthritis is also one of the most common musculoskeletal complications of pediatric Lyme disease. Unlike early Lyme disease,

Facial Nerve Palsy in Children With Lyme Disease A child who suddenly develops facial drooping is often diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. In Lyme-endemic regions, however, Lyme disease is a common cause of facial nerve palsy in children. Recognizing Lyme-related facial palsy is important because treatment strategies differ from those used for idiopathic Bell’s palsy. Facial

PANS-, PANDAS-, and OCD-like Presentations in Children With Lyme Disease Some children with Lyme disease develop sudden behavioral or psychiatric symptoms that resemble pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). These symptoms may include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. Because these presentations involve changes