Could Your Child’s Mental Health Be Infection-Driven?
Summary
- Infections Can Trigger Psychiatric Symptoms - Pathogens like Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, and Mycoplasma can cross the blood-brain barrier, activate microglia, and cause neuroinflammation. This disrupts neurotransmitter systems, leading to depression, anxiety, rage, OCD, or even psychosis—especially in kids.
- It’s Not “All in Their Head”—It’s Inflammation - These are biological dysfunctions, not behavioral problems. Autoimmunity, cytokine surges, and gut dysfunction drive these psychiatric presentations. Psychiatric medications may not work unless the underlying infection and inflammation are treated.
- Sudden-Onset Psychiatric Changes Deserve a Medical Workup - A child who suddenly develops OCD, rage, or tics should be evaluated for infections—not just sent to therapy. Tick-borne illness is often a hidden cause, and when addressed holistically, full recovery is possible.
