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 you treat it, the fewer long-term problems it will cause.

• Be sure your child takes the prescribed antibiotic for as long as instructed, even if feeling better. Follow any special instructions for taking the antibiotic. 
• 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.
  • Use insect repellent containing 10% to 30% DEET.
  • Stay in the middle of the trail instead of going through high grass or woods.
  • Wear closed-toe shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and long 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 after returning indoors. Remove them right away if you find any.

Your child:

• Has problems taking the medicine
• 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 the bacteria that cause Lyme disease live in tall grass and bushes. They spread the bacteria by biting into someone's skin. 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 looks like a "bull's-eye," with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin and an expanding red rash as the outermost ring

Some symptoms like tiredness or pain take several weeks or months to go away, even after treatment. This does not mean that more antibiotics are needed.

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 the hands or feet
• Carditis (heart inflammation) with a slow or irregular heartbeat
• Arthritis (joint inflammation) with redness, swelling, and pain in a joint