Could Your Kid Have Lyme Disease? Here’s What to Watch For

Byscott

Updated May 16, 2025

Lyme Disease in Kids: A Growing Concern

If you’re picturing a big angry rash or a dramatic reaction after a tick bite, that’s not always how it goes. While some children do develop a telltale red ring that spreads outward—kind of like a bullseye—others don’t get any rash at all. And even when the rash is there, it might appear in a spot that’s easy to miss, like the scalp or behind the knee.

Instead, the first thing parents often notice is just that something seems off. Maybe their child is extra tired. Or maybe they have a slight fever and a mild headache that just won’t go away. Some kids complain about sore muscles or joint aches, especially in the knees. Others just get irritable—for no clear reason. Swollen lymph nodes can also pop up early on, along with general flu-like symptoms. That’s usually the body’s first round of defense kicking in.

How Lyme Can Change Over Time

Now, here’s where things can get a little more serious. If Lyme isn’t treated early, it can start to spread deeper into the body. You might see more dramatic signs like weakness in the face (that’s facial palsy), swelling in the joints that makes it hard to walk or play, or what some parents describe as “brain fog”—where their kid just doesn’t seem like themselves anymore.

Some children have trouble sleeping or start waking up with night terrors. Others become dizzy or complain that their heart feels like it’s racing. These signs don’t always appear right away. In fact, some of them can take weeks or even months to develop, which makes tracking down the cause even more frustrating.

According to the CDC, these later-stage symptoms can indicate the bacteria has moved into the nervous system or joints. That’s why early diagnosis is so important—it makes treatment easier and recovery smoother.

But We Never Saw a Tick…

That’s super common. Ticks can be tiny—like, poppy-seed tiny—and they often go unnoticed. Especially in areas with tall grass, wooded trails, or even just the backyard, ticks can latch on and drop off before anyone spots them. Some parents only realize something’s wrong weeks later when their child starts acting “off” or develops a strange rash.

The real trick is thinking back: Did your kid go camping recently? Play in the woods? Roll around in the leaves at Grandma’s house upstate? Lyme is more common in certain parts of the U.S., like the Northeast, upper Midwest, and parts of the West Coast, but cases can show up just about anywhere ticks live.

So even if no one remembers a bite, it’s worth considering Lyme if your child has a cluster of unusual symptoms and was in a place where ticks are active—especially during the warmer months.

What Happens at the Doctor’s Office?

If your pediatrician suspects Lyme, they’ll usually start by asking about recent travel, time spent outdoors, and whether you noticed a rash or bite. Depending on timing, they might order a blood test. But here’s the thing—those tests don’t always catch Lyme right away. Antibodies can take a couple of weeks to show up, so doctors often rely on symptoms and context to decide whether to treat.

Treatment usually involves antibiotics, most commonly amoxicillin or doxycycline depending on your child’s age. The good news? When caught early, most children respond really well and recover fully within a few weeks. That said, some may need longer follow-up, especially if the infection had time to spread or if symptoms linger after treatment ends.

A Few Ways to Stay Ahead of It

Now, if you’re in prevention mode (and let’s be honest, every parent wants to be), there are a few habits that can go a long way. Tick checks are a big one—after hikes, playground time in wooded areas, or even afternoons in overgrown grassy yards, it’s smart to do a full scan. That means checking behind ears, around the waistline, in the hair, under arms, and around sock lines.

Wearing long sleeves and pants helps too, especially in tick-heavy zones. And if your kids are running wild outdoors, insect repellents with DEET or picaridin can make a big difference. Once you’re home, tossing their clothes into a hot dryer for a few minutes can kill any stowaway ticks before they cause trouble.

A Final Thought

Lyme disease is one of those tricky illnesses where early symptoms can fly under the radar. As a parent, your gut feeling counts. If your child just isn’t quite themselves, especially after time outdoors, it’s always worth contacting your doctor. With quick treatment, most kids recover without long-term effects.