Pediatric Lyme

When Fear Delays Pediatric Lyme Treatment: A Year Lost to Lyme Disease When this family brought their son to me, they were facing a decision many parents encounter when delaying pediatric Lyme treatment—whether fear of antibiotics might outweigh the risk of waiting. They were not opposed to treating Lyme disease. But fear stood in the […]

Why Pediatric Lyme Screening Can’t Wait Lyme screening is rarely part of routine medical care, even in regions where tick exposure is common. When early Lyme disease is not recognized, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed until symptoms become more complex and disruptive. In children, these delays can affect learning, behavior, and long-term health during

Lyme Disease Mistaken for Child Abuse Lyme disease mistaken for child abuse is rare but possible when symptoms are misunderstood. In young children who cannot describe their symptoms clearly, infections such as Lyme disease may occasionally resemble traumatic injury. Some medical cases stay with us long after we read them. One such case—published by Pan

Lyme Disease in Kids Is Rising: What Parents Should Know Lyme disease in kids is rising—and it’s not just a seasonal spike or a testing artifact. Pediatric cases are becoming more frequent, more complex, and often harder to diagnose. In some children, symptoms appear younger and progress faster. Others never get a classic rash. Children

Brain Fog and Cognitive Symptoms in Children With Lyme Disease Brain fog in children with Lyme disease can affect concentration, learning, behavior, and school performance. Many parents notice something is wrong long before they have a name for it. A child who once learned easily may begin to struggle to concentrate. Homework takes longer. Instructions

Atypical Lyme Rash in Children: A Case of Erythema Migrans Case reports often illustrate how Lyme disease can present in unexpected ways, particularly in children. The Lyme rash in children does not always resemble the classic bull’s-eye pattern many people expect. In their article, “Giant Erythema in a Child with Lyme Disease,” Banadyha and colleagues

Autism Symptoms Improve with Lyme Disease Treatment: A Case Report A 14-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder experienced substantial improvement in cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms following treatment for Lyme disease and Bartonella, according to a recent case report by Offutt and Breitschwerdt. Academic testing improved from special education level to tenth grade level, oppositional behavior

Children With Lyme Disease: Symptoms and School Impact Children with Lyme disease can develop neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms that interfere with learning, social development, and daily functioning. While many children recover with early treatment, others experience persistent or complex symptoms that affect school performance, mood, and physical health. Lyme disease in children may present