When most people think of tick-borne diseases, they typically think of Lyme disease. However, while it’s essential to be aware of the symptoms and risks of Lyme disease, you should also know other potential tick-borne diseases – especially if you spend time in areas where ticks are prevalent.
One tick-borne disease that should be on your radar is tick paralysis. Understanding your risks, where it’s prevalent, and what the symptoms are can help save you and your loved ones from serious complications.
Tick Paralysis 101
Tick paralysis is not extremely common, but should be taken seriously, as it can cause acute ataxia. This condition is characterized by sudden, uncoordinated muscle movement. Along with humans, tick paralysis can also occur in domesticated animals like dogs.
Tick paralysis is caused by a neurotoxin in a tick’s saliva. When a tick bites a host, such as an animal or a human, this neurotoxin is passed to the host through the tick’s saliva. However, it is noninfectious among people. Engorged female ticks are the only ones that produce this neurotoxin.
Most cases of tick paralysis occur in North America and Australia. These instances typically happen during the spring and early summer.
Tick paralysis is more commonly found in children, possibly due to the impact of the toxins on a smaller body mass. In fact, one Mississippi mother urgently warned parents to check for ticks after her daughter suffered tick paralysis, which left the young girl with difficulty walking and talking.
Symptoms of Tick Paralysis
Tick paralysis is sometimes confused with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy nerves. However, unlike tick paralysis, this condition typically starts a few days or weeks after a gastrointestinal or respiratory viral infection.
Symptoms of tick paralysis typically develop after a tick has been attached for 3 to 7 days.
Common symptoms of tick paralysis include:
- Sore glands
- Flu-like symptoms
- Unsteady while walking
- Weak limbs
- Headache
- Fever
- Rash
- Sensitivity to bright lights
It’s vital to treat tick paralysis promptly. When left untreated, tick paralysis can potentially lead to respiratory failure and death. Mortality for untreated or misdiagnosed cases can be as high as 12%.
Tick Paralysis Treatment
When treated promptly, people can usually recover from tick paralysis, avoiding respiratory failure and potential death.
Treatment for tick paralysis starts with correct tick removal. When removing a tick, take care not to leave any mouth parts embedded in the wound. Severe cases may require further respiratory care.
What Kind of Ticks Cause Tick Paralysis?
Tick paralysis has been associated with over 40 species of ticks. It is most commonly present in the American Dog Tick and Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. These types of ticks tend to live in the Rocky Mountain States, such as Colorado and New Mexico. It has also been found in the Lone Star Tick and the Black-Legged Tick. In Australia, tick paralysis is most commonly caused by the Scrub Tick.
Tick Paralysis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases
If you develop tick paralysis, there’s a chance that you’ve also contracted another tick-borne disease. Ticks that transmit tick paralysis may also carry different bacteria and microbes that result in co-infections. You can help protect your health by watching out for other symptoms of tick-borne diseases and seeking out tick testing.
Protecting Yourself From Tick Bites
The best way to prevent tick paralysis is to try to avoid tick bites in the first place.
Here are some of the top ways to prevent tick bites in areas where they’re common:
- Cover your arms and legs. You can also tuck your pants into socks
- Put long hair up
- Apply a tick repellant to your clothes
- Use bug spray that contains DEET or lemon-eucalyptus essential oils
If you happen to get bit by a tick, it’s vital to know how to remove it properly. Then seek out testing for yourself, and the tick itself through services like those offered at IGeneX.