‘Perfectly healthy’ girl, 4, left paralysed after family camping trip due to giant critter feasting on her scalp
TAYLOR Justice was 'terrified' when her 'healthy' daughter Madeline Tuckwiller woke up paralysed after a camping trip - all because of a tick.
"She couldn't walk and she was crawling on the floor," the 31-year-old mum said.
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Taylor, from West Virginia, US had taken her four kids on a short camping trip on Sunday May 11 to mark Mother’s Day.
Five days later, Taylor noticed something was seriously wrong with her four-year-old daughter.
Madeline was struggling to move and appeared dazed, unable to get herself off the ground.
Taylor rushed her to hospital where medics began running a series of tests and scans but they couldn't figure out what was causing the paralysis.
She was then transferred to a specialist children’s hospital three hours away, where her condition seemed to be getting worse.
“The paralysis affected her whole body,” Taylor said.
“It started from the bottom and was working its way up. She couldn’t sit up and wasn’t even making eye contact.”
Doctors monitored Madeline closely overnight. By the next morning, she had lost function in her hands.
It was only when a neurologist asked about the family’s outdoor activities that he decided to examine her scalp.
They found a dime-sized female Rocky Mountain wood tick hidden in her hair, latched onto her skin and feeding.
It had been releasing a neurotoxin into Madeline’s bloodstream, triggering a rare condition called tick paralysis.
The tick was carefully removed, and within hours, Madeline’s mobility began to return.
“She was able to walk again about four hours later,” Taylor said. “It was such a relief.”
Ticks can hide anywhere and the earlier you catch it, the bette
Taylor Justice
The youngster was also given antibiotics to lower the risk of Lyme disease, which ticks can carry and which can cause long-term complications if not treated early.
Taylor, a salon owner, said she had never heard of tick paralysis before.
“It’s frightening how something so small can do that kind of damage,” she said. “I’ll be so much more careful now.”
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Madeline has started to recover but still wakes up with some stiffness in her legs in the mornings.
Thankfully, she’s regained full movement during the day and is back to her usual self.
There are a few things you can do to lessen your likelihood of tick bites.
Firstly, try and cover as much of your skin as possible while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks.
You should also be using insect repellent containing DEET on your clothes and skin, and wearing light coloured clothing so you can spot a tick easily.
Also stick to paths where possible when you're out walking.
How can I remove a tick safely?
To remove a tick safely:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it.
- Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.
The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell.
If either of these happen, make sure to see a GP so you can get treatment as soon a possible.
Taylor says the experience has changed the way she thinks about outdoor safety.
She now checks all her children thoroughly after time outside and keeps tick repellent in her bag at all times.
“Parents need to know about this,” she said.
“Check their heads, their hairlines, behind their ears, waistbands, even their socks.
"Ticks can hide anywhere and the earlier you catch it, the better.”
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