Pediatric Lyme

Can Lyme Disease Cause OCD in Children and Adults? OCD-like symptoms may occur in children and adults with Lyme disease Sudden behavioral or cognitive changes require a broad evaluation PANS and PANDAS describe specific pediatric presentations Can Lyme disease cause OCD-like symptoms? OCD-like symptoms have been described in some children and adults with Lyme disease, […]

Why Pediatric Lyme Treatment Needs Better Research Major Lyme retreatment trials excluded children Adult findings may not fully apply to pediatric patients More research is needed for children with persistent symptoms How strong is the evidence guiding pediatric Lyme treatment when symptoms continue after initial therapy? Published guidelines provide antibiotic recommendations for recognized manifestations of

Lyme Disease in Teens: When Symptoms Look Like Attitude When irritability, sleeping late, poor motivation, and social withdrawal may signal illness Fatigue and brain fog can affect school, sports, and friendships Earlier recognition may reduce delays in evaluation and treatment Note: This is an illustrative composite based on presentations observed in clinical practice. Names, circumstances,

Lyme Rage: When Anger and Aggression Signal Infection Lyme disease can cause sudden behavior changes in children, including irritability, aggression, anxiety, and oppositional behavior. After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve treated middle and high school students whose severe oppositional behavior resolved with antibiotic treatment. These weren’t psychiatric disorders—they were neurologic symptoms of tick-borne infection

Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis in Children: One Family’s Story Children often miss classic Lyme signs POTS, PANS, and GI symptoms may be overlooked clues Earlier recognition may shorten the diagnostic journey A young athlete went from starring on the soccer field to being unable to climb stairs without his heart racing. His parents searched for answers

Delaying Pediatric Lyme Treatment: A Year Lost to Lyme Disease Delayed treatment may worsen pediatric Lyme disease Persistent symptoms can interfere with cognition and school performance Timely diagnosis and treatment may help reduce long-term consequences When this family brought their son to me, they were facing a decision many parents encounter when considering pediatric Lyme

How Do Doctors Test for Lyme Disease in a Child? How pediatric Lyme testing works Why test timing affects the result Clinical context remains essential How do doctors test for Lyme disease in a child? The evaluation involves more than ordering a blood test. Doctors consider the child’s symptoms, possible tick exposure, physical examination, and

Can Lyme Disease Be Mistaken for Child Abuse? A Lyme disease rash was mistaken for a bruise A child was temporarily removed from his family Recognition of Lyme disease changed the diagnosis Can Lyme disease be mistaken for child abuse? A 2021 case report describes a 4-year-old boy whose Lyme disease rash and swollen knee

Lyme Disease in Children: Symptoms, Early Signs, Diagnosis, and Long-Term Effects Lyme disease in children may be difficult to recognize A tick bite or bullseye rash is often not remembered Early diagnosis may reduce the risk of complications Lyme disease in children can be difficult to recognize. Some children develop an expanding erythema migrans rash,