Pediatric Lyme

Doxycycline for Children With Lyme Disease: Pros and Cons Doxycycline is commonly used to treat Lyme disease in adults, but its use in young children remains controversial. Physicians must weigh the benefits of doxycycline against the potential risk of permanent tooth staining associated with tetracycline antibiotics. Several recent studies and updated pediatric guidelines have reexamined […]

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease Lyme disease symptoms can affect many parts of the body. While many people associate Lyme disease with a bull’s-eye rash, Bell’s palsy, or flu-like symptoms, the infection can also cause sensory, cognitive, neurologic, and cardiac complications — even in its earliest stage. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of Lyme

POTS in Lyme Disease: An Autonomic Disorder POTS in Lyme disease is a form of autonomic dysfunction in which the heart rate rises abnormally when standing. The increase is typically at least 30 beats per minute in adults and 40 beats per minute in children when moving from a recumbent to an upright position. POTS,

Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease: Infection, Not Mental Illness After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve seen patients produce psychiatric symptoms so severe they are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, psychosis, or conversion disorder—and never tested for infection. Some are told their symptoms are stress. Others are told they’re seeking attention. By the time the underlying cause is

Pediatric Lyme Disease Diagnosis Without a Known Tick Bite Pediatric Lyme disease diagnosis without a known tick bite remains a common and often misunderstood clinical scenario. A 6-year-old child presented with a circular rash on the left side of her face that failed to respond to topical steroids, explain Banadyha and colleagues. This case highlights

Is Lyme Disease Always Easily Treated? Is Lyme disease easily treated? In many cases, yes—particularly when the illness is recognized early. However, clinical experience shows that outcomes are not identical for every patient. This post uses a widely read article as a starting point to explore why Lyme disease can be straightforward for some patients—and

Case Demonstrates Importance of Follow-Up Testing in Lyme Disease Follow-up testing can be critical when Lyme disease is suspected despite an initial negative test. This case report highlights how Lyme neuroborreliosis was confirmed only after repeat testing and spinal fluid evaluation. Neurologic symptoms such as confusion, gait instability, and cognitive changes are discussed further in

Lyme Disease Linked to Stroke in a 9-Year-Old Boy Lyme disease can occasionally cause serious neurologic complications in children. This case report describes a 9-year-old boy who developed a stroke associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Challenges diagnosing neurologic Lyme disease are discussed further in the Testing & Diagnosis guide. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, tremor,

Study Shows Doctors Can Misdiagnose Lyme Disease in Children Pediatric Lyme misdiagnosis remains a challenge, particularly in emergency departments where clinicians must make decisions before classic signs or positive tests appear. The CDC notes that Lyme disease can present with a wide range of symptoms, which can make early diagnosis difficult—especially in children. Emergency Department

Lyme Neuroborreliosis in Children: A Case of Stroke and Aneurysms Lyme neuroborreliosis in children can present with a wide range of neurologic symptoms—some of which are uncommon and easily missed. Neurologic Lyme Disease in Children Lyme neuroborreliosis in children may present with meningitis, facial nerve palsy, radiculopathy, and less commonly seizures, stroke, or aneurysms. The