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Series Part 1: Getting to the Root of Chronic Symptoms in Children (related to Tickborne Illness)
As a functional practitioner, I have a deep passion for helping children thrive. That is why it is so frustrating when I hear from parents who know something is wrong, but are told by their doctors, “Everything looks normal.”
They are right to trust their intuition.
While conventional medicine excels at acute care like broken bones or infections, its tools are not always designed to detect the subtle, functional imbalances that can precede a formal diagnosis.
Most pediatric checkups are built around growth charts, milestone check-ins, and vaccines. What they do not catch are the functional imbalances brewing quietly: low-grade inflammation, nutrient depletion, gut dysbiosis, toxic burden, or hidden infections. These imbalances can manifest as “mystery symptoms”:
- Frequent tummy aches
- Skin rashes or eczema
- Mood swings or irritability
- Difficulty focusing
- Chronic congestion
- Restless sleep or fatigue
And yet, despite clear signals that something is off, parents often hear the same line: “Everything looks normal.”
🦠 The Overlooked Threat: Tickborne Illness in Children
One area where this gap is especially clear is tickborne illness.
Lyme disease and co-infections are notoriously underdiagnosed in conventional medicine. Children with recurring headaches, fatigue, joint pain, mood swings, or behavioral changes may undergo basic labs that return negative. Yet the real issue may be a hidden infection such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, or Lyme itself that standard tests simply are not built to detect.
For parents, this often means months or even years of searching without answers while their child continues to struggle.
🔬 Functional Testing: Tickborne 1.0 and 2.0 Panels
This is where Vibrant Wellness’s Tickborne Illness Panels make all the difference:
- Tickborne 1.0: A comprehensive first-line screen for major tickborne pathogens.
- Tickborne 2.0: An expanded panel that includes multiple co-infections, offering a much deeper look when symptoms are complex or persistent.
Unlike conventional Lyme testing, which relies on limited antibody markers, these panels combine immune responses and direct pathogen detection. This dual approach increases the likelihood of identifying infections early, before they progress or become chronic.
For families, this means clarity, validation, and an actionable path forward.
✅ What Parents Can Do Right Now
1. Start With Foundational Support
Even before test results, most families can begin with these supportive steps:
- Anti-inflammatory diet: fresh vegetables, clean proteins, bone broth, healthy fats, fermented foods
- Whole-food supplements:
- Magnesium Complex™ (for calm, digestion, and detox support)
- Omega-3s (for brain health and inflammation)
- Probiotics (for gut balance and immunity)
Lifestyle supports: hydration, outdoor play, restful sleep, and reduced toxin exposure 
2. Order the Tickborne 1.0 Test Without an Appointment
If you want clarity, you can begin today.
➡️ Reach out to our office and request the Tickborne 1.0 panel.
We will send you a private ordering link so you can purchase directly from the lab without an appointment. Tests are often done at home. Once the results are ready, we will forward them to you so you can decide your next steps. Whether you choose to review them on your own, with your pediatrician, or with us, the decision is fully yours.
3. Take the Nutritional Foundations Class
Healing is not just about what we remove, it is about what we add. If you could use support in anti-inflammatory eating, join our Nutritional Foundations Class. It is a 12 week, six module class that teaches you how to:
- Build balanced, anti-inflammatory meals
- Support gut and immune health
- Reduce hidden food triggers
- Lay the groundwork for resilience in kids
→ Click here to join the class
Your Path Forward with Dr. Bonnie
Feeling overwhelmed is normal, but you do not have to navigate this journey alone. If you are tired of being told your child’s symptoms are “just a phase” and are ready for real answers, I am here to help.
We can work together to create an actionable map for your child’s health, starting with the right functional tests and a personalized wellness plan.
👉 Click here to schedule a free discovery call and learn more about working with me.
Final Thought
If your child has persistent symptoms and you have been told “everything looks normal,” it does not mean everything is normal. It means it is time to dig deeper.
Functional testing, especially advanced panels for tickborne illness, can uncover what conventional tools miss, giving you the clarity and confidence to support your child’s healing journey.
➡️ Coming next: The Subtle Signs Parents Should Never Ignore
Dr. Bonnie Juul
⚠️ Disclaimer
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions or changes to your diet or lifestyle.
📚 References & Resources
- Vibrant Wellness. Tickborne 1.0 and 2.0 Panels. Retrieved from https://vibrant-wellness.com
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Testing. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/diagnosis-testing/index.html
- Fallon BA, Schwartzberg M. Lyme Disease: A Neuropsychiatric Illness. Am J Psychiatry. 2021;178(7):576-579.
- Horowitz RI, Freeman PR. Precision Medicine: The Role of Advanced Laboratory Testing in Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-infections. Healthcare (Basel). 2019;7(3):114.