Aug 28
2019
NEOMED Professor Talks Tick Paralysis
When a five-year-old girl was recently hospitalized after she had trouble moving, swallowing and breathing, doctors diagnosed her with tick paralysis.
The disease caused by a toxin in tick salvia is less common than other tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
In a recent interview with the Stamford Advocate, Richard Watkins, M.D., a Northeast Ohio Medical University associate professor of internal medicine, noted “Usually, the paralysis goes away within 24 hours after the tick is removed.”
If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of tick paralysis, Dr. Watkins suggests visiting the nearest emergency room to be evaluated.
