Ticks are parasitic arachnids that are active all year long in warmer climates or from April through September in cooler climates. These tiny bloodsuckers, only three to five millimeters long, can be discovered on animals or in grassy, tangled, or wooded areas. If a tick attaches to you or your pet, you run the risk of getting sick from a tick-borne disease. Fever, paralysis, or even death are possible outcomes of this condition.
The tick that had chosen Collin, 6, as its host caused him to temporarily lose his motor skills, and he was on the verge of passing away. Collin wasn’t moving as much as usual one morning, and Stephanie realized something was wrong.
Because they didn’t want to take any chances with their child, his parents took him to emergency because they initially thought the momentary paralysis was caused by hitting his head at his brother’s baseball game. Collin’s suspicious condition quickly deteriorated, leaving him unable to breathe, eat, or drink without assistance. The hospital’s oxygen levels started to drop as doctors tried to figure out what was causing Collin’s paralysis; as a result, the boy had to be moved to a different facility that was better suited to handle his steadily declining health.
Mom discovers the bug bite that caused the boy’s paralysis.
The cause was then identified by doctors as a tick that was clutching its legs into the skin behind his ear. If another thirty minutes had passed, the young boy would have gone into cardiac arrest.
After the parasite was removed, Collin quickly reverted to his playful, vivacious self. As the summer season gets underway in many states and across Canada, the bothersome parasites are welcoming a fresh supply of blood from people and animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of diseases like West Nile, Lyme disease, and Zika that are spread by tick, mosquito, and flea bites tripled over a 13-year period, from 2004 to 2016. In addition, nine new pathogens that are spread by ticks and mosquitoes have been discovered or introduced in the United States, according to a 2018 study by the CDC.
According to the study, mosquito-borne diseases that have been imported from other parts of the world are on the rise and spreading steadily. ” .
Although tick bites are fairly common, it is extremely uncommon to experience paralysis, as Collin did.
Even so, it is best to take preventative measures and be aware of any potential health risks connected to tick or mosquito bites that may carry parasites. When exposed to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, a person may experience fever, rashes, headaches, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and muscle pain. A pregnant woman who has the zika virus runs the risk of giving birth to a child who is born with a birth defect. Zika can also be spread through sexual activity. Headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea are just a few of the 20 percent of infected people who experience West Nile symptoms.
The bite of an infected mosquito can also spread West Nile symptoms.
Everyone has the potential to contract the illness, but people with immune system disorders are more susceptible.
Mom discovers the bug bite that led to the boy’s paralysis.
Lyme disease is contracted through the bite of an infected tick, and has recently attracted a lot of attention.
The rash may also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms like chills, fever, body aches, and fatigue.
According to the CDC, about 476,000 Americans are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease each year. According to Dr. Travis Stork, the former host of the TV program The Doctors, one of the signs of Lyme disease is a rash with a bulls-eye pattern that occasionally spreads past the site of the initial bite. He advised anyone experiencing symptoms to get in touch with a doctor right away so that “they can talk to you about your symptoms and order additional testing to ensure you are properly diagnosed.”. ”. ”.
According to the CDC, if an infection is not treated, it can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. Alec Baldwin, an actor who was given a Lyme disease diagnosis more than 20 years ago, said, “I got the classic Lyme disease (symptoms) for each successive summer, for five years, every August, like this black lung, flu-like symptoms, and sweating to death in my bed. ”. And I genuinely thought that this was it; I wasn’t going to make it. ”.
Mom discovers bug bite that caused boy’s paralysis after it occurred.
Despite some people’s skepticism, Lyme disease can be harmful.
Lyme disease is a disease spread by ticks.
Hailey Baldwin, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin and Alec Baldwin’s brother, defended her husband Justin Bieber in 2020 after he revealed on Instagram that he has Lyme disease.
Hailey Bieber said: “For those trying to minimize the severity of Lyme disease, please do your research and listen to the stories of people who have suffered with it for years.”. “Education is all that is necessary; there is no justification for ridiculing or demeaning a disease you don’t fully comprehend. ”.
In her Netflix documentary Not Just a Girl, Shania Canadian country music star Twain discusses her life with Lyme disease, which she has had since 2003. She says, “I was on stage very dizzy, I was losing my balance, I was afraid I was going to fall off the stage…I was having these very, very millisecond blackouts, but regularly-every minute or every 30 seconds.
Dr. Stork says the best way to avoid a bite is to take preventative measures.
According to Dr. Stork in an interview with People, the best defense against these illnesses is to stay away from areas where they are common. “We frequently play, hike, and relax in wooded areas, tall grass, and lawns and gardens during the summer, so people really need to be proactive in protecting themselves. Make sure your pets are thoroughly checked for clinging ticks before bringing them inside. Dogs can also experience the stiffness and lameness brought on by Lyme disease.
It should be clear from these illustrations, starting with young Collin, how important it is to reduce your risk of contracting diseases spread by ticks or mosquitoes.
After being outside, always check yourself and your pets for ticks, and when possible, avoid standing in tall grass. Mosquito activity peaks at dusk, and they are most prevalent in places where there is standing water. Wear long sleeves and pants and use insect repellent with DEET if you’re outside in the evening. AFTER that, read.
