{"id":19281,"date":"2026-05-20T13:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T07:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/?p=19281"},"modified":"2026-06-24T13:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T08:16:41","slug":"symptoms-of-lyme-disease-in-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-lyme-disease-in-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyme Disease in Children: Symptoms Parents Should Watch For"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lyme<\/p>\n

Outdoor play creates opportunities for developing a child’s fine motor skills, encourages curiosity, reduces anger and stress, and helps make new friends. But it also exposes children to disease-causing agents.<\/p>\n

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Lyme disease<\/strong>, a condition with long-term effects on a child’s health, is caused by one such bacterium. Early diagnosis and adequate Lyme disease treatment<\/strong> can prevent this.<\/p>\n

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This article provides an overview of Lyme disease, its causes and the symptoms parents should look out for in children.<\/p>\n

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What is Lyme Disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lyme disease<\/strong> is a zoonotic infection transmitted by the bite of an infected tick carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi<\/em> bacterium. According to the WHO disease classification standard, the Lyme disease ICD-10<\/strong> code is A69.20. It progresses through three stages, with the early stage characterised by non-specific symptoms that mimic other conditions, making its diagnosis difficult.<\/p>\n

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What Causes Lyme Disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lyme disease is caused by<\/strong> the bite of a blacklegged tick infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi<\/em> bacterium. This bacterium is transmitted only when the tick remains attached for 36 to 48 hours. The tick is often attached to areas that are difficult to notice, such as the scalp, armpits and groin.<\/p>\n

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What are the Risk Factors of Lyme Disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Outdoor Activities:<\/strong> Engaging in activities in grassy or wooded areas, such as forests or playgrounds, increases the risk of a tick bite.<\/li>\n
  2. Time of the Year:<\/strong> Ticks are the most active in warmer months, increasing the prevalence of Lyme disease during this time of the year.<\/li>\n
  3. Location:<\/strong> Certain regions of the world have a higher prevalence of blacklegged ticks that carry the Lyme disease<\/strong>-causing bacteria. These regions are the northeastern and north-central United States, as well as parts of Europe and Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Lyme disease symptoms<\/strong> vary depending on the stage. These are categorised as:<\/p>\n

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    Stage 1 – Early Localised<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Early localised Lyme disease symptoms<\/strong> start within 3 to 30 days. It includes<\/p>\n

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