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 way.

Not fear of Lyme disease itself, but fear of the treatment.

They had read about C. difficile, a potentially serious infection associated with antibiotic use. They had seen frightening stories online describing chronic diarrhea, long-term gut complications, and even life-threatening outcomes. They also knew someone personally who had struggled to recover from C. difficile colitis. As his symptoms worsened, the impact extended beyond his health.

So when their child was diagnosed with Lyme disease and prescribed antibiotics, they hesitated.

What if the treatment made things worse?
What if antibiotics caused permanent gut damage?

That fear led them to wait.

This pattern is seen repeatedly in children with Lyme disease when treatment is delayed.

When Fear Leads to Delaying Pediatric Lyme Treatment

At first, the family tried to manage symptoms without antibiotics. They focused on diet, supplements, sleep, and stress reduction. They hoped that supporting his body might allow recovery without medication.

But Lyme disease does not wait.

Fatigue deepened until it became overwhelming. Brain fog interfered with conversation and comprehension. Joint pain intensified, affecting walking, sitting, and sleep. Neuropathic pain emerged, turning everyday activities into ordeals. Episodes of palpitations, lightheadedness, and disorientation followed.

The child they once knew slowly disappeared.

Delaying Pediatric Lyme Treatment and the Impact on School

Before his illness, he was a capable, engaged student. As symptoms worsened, school became increasingly difficult—and then impossible.

He struggled to concentrate and retain information. Reading and writing became exhausting. Pain made sitting through class intolerable. Absences increased, and academic gaps widened. Friends noticed his withdrawal, and isolation followed.

The school attempted accommodations—extra time, tutoring, rest periods—but his health continued to decline. Eventually, he had to withdraw entirely.

For a full year, he watched classmates advance academically and socially while he remained home, sick and uncertain.

Delays like this are a common reason children with Lyme disease experience prolonged academic and neurologic setbacks, a pattern I discuss in more detail in my overview of pediatric Lyme disease and delayed diagnosis.

These academic struggles are often driven by neurologic involvement, including brain fog and cognitive dysfunction in children with Lyme disease.

The Cost of Delaying Pediatric Lyme Treatment

By the time treatment finally began, the opportunity for early intervention had passed.

What might have been a relatively straightforward course of antibiotics became a prolonged and complex recovery. Symptoms were more entrenched. Treatment required closer monitoring. Returning to school became uncertain and slow.

He did eventually return.

But the year he lost—academically, socially, emotionally—could not be recovered.

What Parents Should Know About Delaying Treatment

Lyme disease is not a benign illness in children. While antibiotic risks deserve consideration, the consequences of untreated Lyme disease—including neurologic injury, cognitive decline, and loss of school years—are often far harder to reverse.

In some children, delayed treatment also contributes to autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia), which can further impair energy, concentration, and daily functioning.

Antibiotic complications can often be reduced through careful prescribing, monitoring, probiotics, and early response to side effects. The consequences of delaying pediatric Lyme treatment are frequently more difficult—or impossible—to undo.

The Takeaway for Parents

If you are hesitant about Lyme disease treatment for your child, speak with a clinician who understands pediatric Lyme disease. Ask questions. Discuss risks openly. Make an informed decision.

But do not allow fear of a potential complication to delay care for a disease that can permanently alter a child’s health, education, and future.

Because sometimes, delaying pediatric Lyme treatment costs far more than anyone expects.

References:

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — Lyme disease research and neurologic manifestations

LymeDisease.org — Education on neuropsychiatric and persistent Lyme symptoms