Children contract Lyme disease too, and their symptoms often look completely different from adults.
Lyme disease in children is both underrecognized and undertreated. Children can be bitten by infected ticks in backyards, school fields, and parks, and may not recall or report the bite. Pediatric Lyme symptoms frequently look different from adult presentations: behavioral changes, joint pain, fatigue, headaches, declining school performance, mood instability, and social withdrawal are common early signs.
When left unidentified, childhood Lyme can contribute to PANS, chronic fatigue, autoimmune activation, and multi-system dysfunction that follows a child into adulthood. Dr. Jaban has both personal and extensive clinical experience with pediatric Lyme and is a strong advocate for thorough investigation and comprehensive care in children with complex, unexplained health changes.