Madison Area Lyme Support Group

It’s one of the most emotional stories parents share.

They tell me their child was once full of energy and curiosity—but suddenly began struggling.

Fatigue, brain fog, dizzy spells, and even seizure-like episodes.

Brain scans? Normal. EEGs? Clear. Yet the worry remained.

“We were told they were functional seizures—just stress-related. No one believed our child was in pain.”

In more cases than you’d expect, Lyme disease or a tick-borne co-infection was the missing piece.

What Are Functional Seizures?

Functional seizures, also called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), look like epileptic seizures on the outside—but don’t show abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They’re often thought to stem from psychological stress or trauma.

But here’s the issue:

Many children with tick-borne illness also have seizure-like episodes without abnormal brain scans or EEGs. And when they receive antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, these episodes often improve or resolve.

So, the question becomes:

What if it wasn’t “just stress”? What if it was an infection affecting the nervous system?

What the Research Confirms

In a 1998 study led by Dr. Barbara J. Bloom, five children with Lyme disease were followed over time. Two of them had seizure-like episodes—but their EEGs and MRIs were normal. After receiving appropriate antibiotics, both improved.¹

A broader review by Dr. Brian A. Fallon and colleagues in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that Lyme disease can mimic seizures, anxiety, depression, and other neurologic disorders—even when imaging looks normal.²

These studies validate what many parents already sense: The symptoms are real. The child isn’t faking. And treatment can help.

How Lyme Affects the Brain

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which can invade the central nervous system—called neuroborreliosis.

In children, it may not look like arthritis. Instead, it may show up as:

1. 1. Seizure-like episodes
   2. Dizziness or fainting
   3. Brain fog and cognitive slowdown
   4. Mood changes
   5. Sensory sensitivities
   6. Trouble sleeping

When test results are “normal,” these symptoms can be misdiagnosed as:

1. 1. Anxiety or panic disorder
   2. ADHD
   3. Conversion disorder (functional neurologic disorder)

But Lyme and co-infections—like Babesia or Bartonella—can trigger these symptoms in ways that standard tests miss.

A Real-Life Story: Not Epilepsy, But Lyme

A 12-year-old patient of mine developed:

1. 1. Non-epileptic seizure-like episodes
   2. Dizziness
   3. Brain fog
   4. Light sensitivity
   5. Severe fatigue

Her brain MRI and EEG were normal. She was diagnosed with functional seizures.

But her mother remembered a camping trip. We tested her for tick-borne illness—results came back positive for Lyme disease and Babesia.

With the right treatment:

1. 1. The episodes stopped
   2. Her thinking cleared
   3. Her laughter returned

Her mother said, “She laughed like herself again.”

What Every Parent Should Know

• If your child has unexplained seizure-like episodes, trust your instincts.
• Lyme disease can trigger neurologic symptoms—even when scans are normal.
• Don’t stop at “normal EEG” or “it’s just stress.” Ask about tick-borne testing.
• Treatment for Lyme and co-infections has helped many children reclaim their health.

Key Research

1. Bloom BJ, Wyckoff PM, Meissner HC, Steere AC. Neurocognitive abnormalities in children after Lyme disease. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1998;17(3):189–196.
2. Fallon BA, Nields JA. Lyme neuroborreliosis: neurologic and psychiatric manifestations. Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151(11):1571–1583.