Lyme Disease: How to Care for Your Child

Lyme disease is an illness caused by a type of bacteria (germ). The bacteria can spread to humans through the bite of a tiny deer tick (also called a black-legged tick). Lyme disease usually can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. The sooner it is treated, the fewer long-term problems it will cause.

• Be sure your child takes the prescribed antibiotics for as long as instructed. Don't stop treatment for any reason. Call your health care provider to discuss any concerns with the medicine.

• Let your child rest as much as needed.

• Follow these outdoor safety tips to protect your whole family from future tick bites:

  • Don't sit on the ground in wooded areas, and use insect repellent containing 10% to 30% DEET.

  • Stay in the middle of the trail instead of going through high grass or woods.

  • Dress in long sleeves and pants. Tuck the shirt into the pants and the pant legs into socks or boots to keep ticks out.

  • Wear light-colored clothing so it's easier to see ticks.

  • Consider treating clothing with permethrin to repel ticks. When used properly, it is safe for all ages. But don't use it on clothing or other material a child may suck on or chew.

  • Shower and wash hair after being outside to remove ticks before they attach.

  • Check for ticks regularly and remove them right away if you find any.

Your child:

• still has symptoms after completing the full course of antibiotics

• develops pain or swelling in a joint

• reports a numb or tingling feeling in the hands or feet

Your child:

• develops facial weakness or speech problems

• feels a skipped heartbeat

• is lightheaded or passes out

• has a bad headache or a stiff neck, or is bothered by light

How do kids get Lyme disease? Ticks that carry these bacteria live in tall grass and bushes. They can attach to a person walking by, but they can't fly or jump. Only a small number of these ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. An infected tick must be attached for at least 1–2 days to pass the bacteria.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Symptoms of Lyme disease appear within days to weeks of a tick bite. The first signs include:

• flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, joint or muscle pain, and tiredness

• a round rash at the bite site that sometimes has a "bull's-eye" appearance, with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin ringed by an expanding red rash

If Lyme disease is not treated, skin rashes may appear on other body parts. The infection also can affect the nerves, brain, heart, and joints, leading to:

• facial palsy (damage to a facial nerve), with drooping of one side of the face

• meningitis (inflammation around the brain and spinal cord) with neck pain, fever, and headache

• numbness or tingling in hands or feet

• carditis (heart inflammation) with a slow or irregular heartbeat

• arthritis (joint inflammation) with redness, swelling, and pain in a joint