LYME DISEASE
WHAT IS LYME DISEASE IN CHILDREN?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorfeeri. The bacteria are usually spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is a year-round problem, but it peaks during the spring and summer months. It can cause short-term symptoms and may cause long-term problems.
WHAT CAUSES LYME DISEASE IN A CHILD?
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that are spread to people by tick bites. The ticks that carry the bacteria are:
- Black-legged deer tick. These are found in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and North-Central U.S.
- Western black-legged tick. These are found on the West Coast of the U.S.
WHICH CHILDREN ARE AT RISK FOR LYME DISEASE?
A child is more at risk for Lyme Disease in certain parts of the U.S. during the spring and summer momths, when ticks are more active. Ticks lie in wooded areas, low-growing grasslands, and back yards. A child is more at risk outdoors in these places, or around a pet that has been in these areas. Lyme has been reported in nearly all states including Massachusetts.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE IN A CHILD?
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They usually appear within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. Lyme disease has early and late-stage symptoms.
Early stage Lyme disease is more easily cured with antibiotics than late-stage disease. Most cases of late-stage disease occur when early stage disease is not treated.
One of the most common symptoms is a ring-shaped rash that looks like a bull's-eye. It may be pink in the ccenter and have a darker red ring around it. The rash does not occur in every case of Lyme. If it does occur, the rash may:
- Appear several days after infection
- Last up to several weeks
- Be very small or very large, up to 12 inches across
- Look like other skin problems such as hives, eczema, sunburn, poison ivy, or flea bites
- Itch or feel hot or not be felt at all
- Go away and come back several weeks later
Several days or weeks after a bite from an infected tick, your child may have multiple ring-shaped rashes on the body and flu-like symptoms such as:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Aches and pains in muscles and joints
- Low fever and chills
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen glands
Weeks to months after the bite, these symptoms may develop:
- Nervous system symptoms, such as inflammation of the nervous system (meningitis) and weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles (Bells palsy)
- Heart problems, such as inflammaton of the heart (myopericarditis) and problems with heart rate
- Eye problems, such as inflammation of the eyes
- Skin disorders
- Severe tiredness
- Weakness
Months to a few years after a bite, these symptoms may occur:
- Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
- Nervous system symptoms, such as numbness in the arms and legs, tingling and pain, and trouble with speech, memory, and concentration
The symptoms of Lyme disease can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
HOW IS LYME DISEASE DIAGNOSED IN A CHILD?
The healthcare provider will ask about your child's symptoms and health history. He or she will ask about recent tick bites. He or she will give your child a physical exam.
Lyme is usually not hard to diagnose. However other conditions may cause similar symptoms. The main symptom is often a rash, but more than 1 in 5 people infected with Lyme don't have a rash. In the earliest stage, diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and a history of a tick bite. In later stages, blood testing is very important to make a diagnosis of Lyme disease.
Talk with your child's healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, possible side effects of all medications.
WHAT ARE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF LYME DISEASE IN A CHILD?
Some children may develop post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS). This means that some symptoms last longer than 6 months. Symptons can include:
- Ongoing muscle and nerve pain
- Tiredness
- Problems with memory
PLDS does not respond to antibiotics.
Pets can carry ticks into your home. Check your pets for ticks. Talk with your pet's veterinarian about tick repellent medicine.
WHEN SHOULD I CALL MY CHILD'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDER?
Call the healthcare provider for any symptoms that don't get better, or get worse.
RESOURCE
Cedars Sinai; cedars-sinai.org
Disclaimer
This information is for general purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional advice from your health professional. We do not support self-diagnosis based on any information found in this fact sheet. We are not responsible for any self-diagnosis made by a reader based on information found in this fact sheet. It is merely meant to be an informational tool to present warning signs that should be brought to the aattention of a medial doctor.