How Lyme Disease Affects Your Child
By Illinois Lyme Association
Approximately 476,000 are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Children are at the top of the list when it comes to contracting the infection.
10 Key Facts
Here are 10 key facts to know about how Lyme disease affects your child.
Rash development
Emerging research in The Lancet Regional Health Europe suggests skin rashes may occur in 35%-40% of children who contract Lyme disease, as opposed to 70%-80% of cases that had been reported previously.
Lyme testing
The ELISA and the Standard Western Blot can miss children who have been infected with Lyme disease. Diagnosing Lyme disease can be challenging, especially in the early stages. Blood tests may not detect antibodies until several weeks after infection, and early symptoms can mimic other illnesses.
Symptom variability
Children infected with Lyme can present with a range of symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, and more.
Neurological symptoms
Children may be more prone to central nervous system involvement with Lyme disease than adults. The reasons for this increased susceptibility are not fully understood, but factors such as which Borrelia species is involved and the location of the tick bite—particularly bites near the head and neck—may play a role.
Heart Involvement
Lyme disease can affect the heart, leading to Lyme carditis. Symptoms, which can occur in children, may include heart palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
Social impact
Lyme disease can have significant social implications for children. A child with Lyme may experience loss of friendships, grade retention, missed social activities, and feelings of isolation.
Mental health concerns
Children with Lyme disease may experience mood changes, difficulty concentrating, or other cognitive issues. These symptoms can impact academic performance and daily activities. Children with tick-borne diseases are more likely to be diagnosed with certain psychiatric conditions, such as pediatric bipolar disorder, depression, and more.
Onset of PANS/PANDAS
Lyme disease is an infection linked to the onset of neurological conditions like PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) and PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections). These conditions can lead to symptoms such as tics, OCD, ADD, depression, and eating disorders in children.
Mother-to-fetus transmission
Lyme disease during pregnancy can lead to placental infection, which may increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or other health issues.
If you would like a printable version of this information, download our How Lyme Disease Affects Your Child here.
Resources
Greenberg R. Infections and Childhood Psychiatric Disorders: Tick-Borne Illness and Bipolar Disorder in Youth. Bipolar Disorder: Open Access. 2017 Jan; 3. doi: 10.4172/2472-1077.1000113
Greiter BM, et al. Clinical characteristics and serological profiles of Lyme disease in children: a 15-year retrospective cohort study in Switzerland. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2024 Dec. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101143
Lyme Disease Surveillance and Date. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
Kugeler KJ, et al. Changing Trends in Age and Sex Distributions of Lyme Disease-United States, 1992-2016. Public Health Rep. 2022 Jul-Aug;137(4):655-659. doi: 10.1177/00333549211026777
Pregnancy and Lyme Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/media/pdfs/Lyme-disease-fact-sheet-for-pregnant-women-English.pdf
