Could your child be suffering from a life-altering disease?
It looks like any other disease contracted during childhood but causes significant problems when left untreated. This silent culprit is known as Lyme disease, and it's easy to pick up in almost any setting outside.
What are the best ways to avoid it to protect yourself and your family? Is there any way to detect Lyme disease in children?
Read on and learn how to care for your kids and keep them healthy. That way, if they run into the disease, you'll know what it is and how to treat it immediately. Also, make sure you learn the symptoms of Lyme Disease.
Understanding How Lyme Disease in Children Occurs
Lyme disease was discovered in the 1970s. It is something that individuals who live in the Northeast and Midwest are most at risk for, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). With that said, based on Dr. Sponaugle’s database of patients worldwide, his patients have proven that one can no longer discriminate by location, and Lyme disease is everywhere.
Typically, children find themselves at risk for Lyme disease when they are outside playing or when they are animal lovers. Black-legged ticks have proven to be the primary carriers for Lyme disease in scientific research thus far; however, Dr. Sponaugle believes it’s only a matter of time until an American study also names the mosquito as a significant contributing factor to the rapid growth of Lyme disease. “I have never met a chronic Lyme patient who denied being bitten by a mosquito, yet, I have treated thousands who denied ever seeing a tick,” said Dr. Sponaugle.
Children often wander out into the tall grass, brush, and heavily wooded areas when playing. They usually don't pay attention to the conditions of the areas they're playing in, making them prime targets for the ticks to hop on their clothing and make their way to skin and hair.
This is why it's so important to inspect children and check for possible bugs on their clothing, skin, or hair after they've been out playing or returning home from riding lessons.
Discovering the Symptoms of Lyme Disease
To detect what Lyme disease looks like, understanding the symptoms is crucial. Because symptoms could appear as something else (such as a cold), ensure you're thoroughly checking over your child.
The symptoms of Lyme disease in children can include:
- Chills
- Pain that can range from manageable to severe
- Feeling stiff
- A rash that looks like a bulls-eye and continues to expand
Treatment of Lyme Disease in Children
If you suspect your child has Lyme, take them to a Lyme-literate doctor to get them checked immediately. When left untreated, lifelong severe conditions can develop and even begin to deteriorate the central nervous system.
A Lyme literate doctor can sometimes diagnose by examining the patient, especially if they ask the right questions or if your child has the tell-tale rash.
Besides, your child will be required to perform blood work. The sensitivity of the tests varies greatly depending on how long an individual has been infected and on the type of clinical manifestations. There is an overwhelming number of false-negative reports for Lyme disease. Many of Dr. Sponaugle’s patients said they initially tested negative for Lyme disease as well when they later tested positive. This happens more often than not; therefore, it is essential to watch your child’s health issues and have them retested.
Read one of our previous blog posts written by Dr. Sponaugle, who applauded Columbia University et al. for making a more diligent effort to provide better quality testing for tick-borne diseases.
How to Safeguard Your Family and Prevent Lyme Disease
Now that you're aware of what Lyme disease is and how it affects your family, it pays to attempt to prevent the issue from occurring.
Some of the ways to prevent contracting Lyme disease include:
- Cutting down tall grass and brush to reduce the chance of ticks thriving
- Dress your child in long sleeves and pants if they play out in wooded areas
- Use a child-safe bug spray that prevents ticks
- Check your child after they've been out playing, and pay attention to skin and hair for ticks
- Have your child bathe and wash their hair and clothes when out in tick-prone areas
- Keep your animals outside and make sure they’re medically treated
Investigate how severe Lyme disease is in your area. Your neighbors or city might have information on how to prevent it and how they manage it, given your specific location.
Read More: Wood Tick vs. Deer Tick - Which Carries Lyme Disease?
Learn More and Take Care of Your Family
Preventing your children from contracting Lyme disease sounds overwhelming, but with planning and forethought, it is manageable.
Teach your children early on to check themselves for ticks. Some ticks aren't easily noticeable, so go over their head and skin and pay attention to any symptoms mentioned that could indicate Lyme disease in children. These are typically a bulls-eye rash (if visible), chills, and numbness.
Subscribe to our blog and learn more about other issues involving Lyme disease and other co-infections often found in patients diagnosed with Lyme disease. You will also learn about Dr. Sponaugle’s research and treatments and his thoughts on the link between mosquitos and Lyme disease.
The more you know, the better you and your family can prevent this disease from entering your homes and taking over your lives.
