“How do I get my child back?”
This heartbreaking question echoes through our office almost daily. Parents come to us worried, watching their once-energetic child now struggling with unexplained fatigue, mysterious aches, or sudden behavioral changes. They’ve often been told it’s “just a phase” or “normal childhood development,” but their parental instincts tell them something more is wrong.
As parents ourselves, we understand. When your child isn’t thriving, nothing else matters. Over the past few years at Foundations Wellness, we’ve helped many families uncover an unexpected root cause behind their children’s mysterious symptoms: Lyme disease.
“I kept thinking they were just going through a rough patch,” shares Sarah, mother of a 10-year-old patient. “We tried everything – changing routines, more sleep, less screen time. But when traditional treatments weren’t helping, we knew we needed to look deeper.”
Sarah and her child came to Foundations Wellness, and we were able to help diagnose the root cause of Lyme Disease. In this article, we’ll share some of the things we look for when pediatric lyme disease may be the actual issue.
Why Lyme Disease Is Often Missed in Children + What to Look for
Unlike adults, children may not easily express what they’re feeling. Plus, Lyme disease can be particularly tricky to spot because its symptoms often mimic common childhood issues.
“Many children with Lyme disease experience a wide range of symptoms,” explains Jen Losee, RN, BSN, CPN, our pediatric specialist. “What looks like normal childhood challenges could actually be signs of an underlying infection.”
Here are seven signs that might indicate your child may be dealing with Lyme disease:
1. Unexplained Behavioral Changes
Has your normally even-tempered child started having emotional outbursts? While occasional moodiness is normal, sudden personality changes could signal something deeper. “We noticed our daughter became increasingly irritable and emotional,” one parent shared. “What we originally thought was pre-teen angst turned out to be her body fighting Lyme disease.”
2. Chronic Fatigue That Doesn’t Make Sense
If your once-energetic child is constantly tired despite getting enough sleep, pay attention. Children should wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. “Our son went from being the first one up and ready to play to having to be dragged out of bed,” recalls one mother. “That’s when we knew something wasn’t right.”
3. “Growing Pains” That Keep Moving
While growing pains are real, pain that moves from joint to joint isn’t typical. Lyme disease often causes migrating aches that get dismissed as normal childhood discomfort. If your child complains about pain that seems to “travel” around their body, this could be a red flag.
4. New Learning or Focus Challenges
Teachers might notice your child having trouble concentrating, or grades might start slipping. Brain fog and cognitive changes can be subtle signs of Lyme disease in children. “We knew something wasn’t right when our straight-A student started struggling to concentrate,” shares another parent. “Teachers noticed it too, but nobody could explain why.”
5. Recurring Flu-Like or Other Symptoms
Does your child seem to get “sick” more often than their peers? Frequent flu-like symptoms without an actual flu diagnosis could be a sign of Lyme disease. These symptoms might come and go, making them easy to dismiss as just “catching whatever’s going around.” Lyme disease or its co-infections can also often present in kiddos as recurring belly issues and headaches.
6. Anxiety or Separation Issues
New onset anxiety or separation issues, especially in a previously confident child, might be more than just a phase. “Our outgoing daughter suddenly became clingy and anxious,” one parent recalls. “It was like watching a different child emerge.”
7. Sensitivity Changes
New sensitivities to light, sound, or touch can be easily overlooked but may signal underlying Lyme disease. These sensitivities often appear gradually and might be dismissed as “just being sensitive.”
Hope for Recovery
The good news? Children have an incredible capacity for healing. “With kids, we have such an advantage because their bodies bounce back so quickly once we give them the right support,” notes Losee.
If you recognize several of these signs in your child, trust your parental instincts. You know your child best. Early intervention can make a significant difference in your child’s recovery journey. “The most important thing I tell parents is this: you’re here now, you’re taking action, and that’s what matters. It’s never too late to start healing.”
Connect with a Foundations Wellness Pediatric Practitioner
What makes our approach different is looking at the complete picture – not just individual symptoms. “We kept going from specialist to specialist until we found Foundations Wellness,” shares Maria, mother of a 12-year-old patient. “Finally, someone connected all the dots and helped us understand what was really going on.”
Ready to get answers for your child? Learn more about our painless assessment and natural treatment approaches for childhood Lyme disease by booking an appointment or calling 513-301-7406 to schedule a consultation with our pediatric specialists.