Act 1: A Missed Beginning

Jake went from star athlete to unable to climb stairs without his heart racing. His parents searched for answers for two years before anyone mentioned Lyme disease.

With no tick bite or rash, his parents and doctors didn’t recognize the early warning signs.

Act 2: The Diagnostic Odyssey

Jake’s family did what most families do: they sought help. Each specialist had a different explanation:

1. Cardiology visit: “Normal EKG, it’s probably anxiety.”

2. GI specialist: “Functional dyspepsia, try antacids.”

3. Psychiatry: “Adjustment disorder, maybe start therapy.”

4. Pediatrician: “He’ll grow out of it.”

His parents felt increasingly isolated.

1. “We felt like we were going crazy.”

2. “Every specialist had a different explanation.”

3. “Other parents started avoiding us at soccer games.”

4. “We blamed ourselves for not seeing it sooner.”

When Lyme Doesn’t Look Like Lyme

Lyme disease in children doesn’t always appear with a rash or swollen joints. Instead, it may show up as POTS, PANS, or gastroparesis—conditions that can also have other causes.

1. POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome): dizziness, palpitations, fainting

2. PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome): sudden OCD, anxiety, or regression in school

3. Gastroparesis: nausea, bloating, delayed stomach emptying

These may be overlooked signs of Lyme, especially when symptoms appear suddenly.

Red Flags Parents Should Watch For

Parents should take note if their child develops:

1. Dizziness, fainting, or racing heart

2. Abrupt OCD, anxiety, or school regression

3. Persistent nausea or stomach pain

4. Migrating joint or muscle pain

5. Unexplained fevers, sweats, or night chills

6. Headaches, brain fog, or memory lapses

Any one symptom may have multiple causes, but a cluster of these signs deserves further evaluation.

Other Signs I’ve Seen Overlooked

In my practice, I’ve seen many children misdiagnosed before Lyme disease was considered:

1. Joint pain mistaken for sports injuries or “growing pains”

2. Headaches attributed to hormones or stress

3. Cognitive changes dismissed as psychiatric

4. Anxiety or depression treated without infection in mind

5. Vision changes such as blurred vision or light sensitivity

6. Neuropathy with tingling or burning pain

7. Sleep disturbance—insomnia or unrefreshing fatigue

8. Palpitations or chest pain labeled as anxiety

9. Seizure-like episodes (PNES) called functional

10. Autoimmune-like labs without clear explanation

Act 3: Recognition and Recovery

In Jake’s case, Lyme disease was eventually considered. Testing, combined with Jake’s history, revealed what had been missed. Treatment was not quick or simple, but it gave him a chance to heal.

Today, Jake is back in school full-time. He still has some days of fatigue, but early recognition could have prevented months of suffering. His parents now understand how subtle pediatric Lyme disease clues can be.

Why the Signs Are Missed

1. Parents often expect a visible tick bite or rash.

2. Specialists focus narrowly on their field.

3. POTS, PANS, and gastroparesis can have many different causes.

That’s why careful professional evaluation is so important.

Takeaway

✅ His parents overlooked subtle clues because they didn’t look like Lyme. When children develop sudden unexplained symptoms consistent with POTS, PANS, gastroparesis, or clusters of strange complaints — Lyme disease should be on the list of possibilities.

👉 Have you felt like important signs were missed in your child’s care? I’d like to hear your story—share it below.

Resources

Atypical findings in Lyme disease makes diagnosing difficult

Lyme Disease triggers PANS 

Lyme Disease Impact In School