Topic: Conjunctival Attachment of a Tick: Clinicopathologic Report of a Case.
Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Title Conjunctival Attachment of a Tick: Clinicopathologic Report of a Case.
Author(s) Willen C, Mullen GR, Yee J, Read RW
Institution Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Source J Emerg Med 2008 May 29.
Abstract Attachment by ticks to ocular surfaces is uncommon, but has been reported. The objective of this article is to describe a case of conjunctival tick attachment and a method for removal by conjunctival excision. A 39-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with a complaint of foreign-body sensation in his right eye. He was found to have a live tick embedded in his conjunctiva. The tick was removed en bloc with surrounding conjunctiva by an ophthalmologist. The arthropod was identified as the larval stage of the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum).
The patient did not experience any systemic illnesses or adverse sequelae. Attachment of ticks to the conjunctiva is unlikely to result in disease transmission when the larval stage is involved. However, removal by excision of a surrounding block of conjunctiva is recommended to ensure complete removal of all tick body parts.
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Melanie, you always come on here with great and interesting information!!
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
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Haha...
I know those Lone Star ticks are So aggressive, but this one really had the 'oh my Goodness!' factor.
This also helps to dispell the myth of a big tick crawling around and the famous, "Oh if you had a tick on you, you sure would know it" understatment. These suckers are small and often unrecognizable.
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Keebler
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-
It would have been nice if the patient had received abx treatment just in case . . . and instructions for the timing of the TBI tests.
I read this and of course was like.. Crazy!! So I go to my dad's yesterday and I am petting their cute dog....and guess what....
He has a TICK on his EYELID..... I Couldn't beleive it.
It was taken off and she is fine, but it reminded me of this story! Weird huh!!
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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Melanie Reber
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Member # 3707
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Poor pooch. Just remember...where there is one, there may be others. I hope your father is aware of what symptoms to look for in animals?
Always be cautious when removing ticks. Many TBDs are transmitted transdermally.
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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yes I made sure to tell them about what to look for! I was worried for Minnie... She is like family.
They live in an area that I know is tick central. I get nervous about my brothers walking around in the woods and such. I tell them to PLEASE check themselves.
With everything going on with me, they are being more careful.
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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That's nothing, there is a Poster presented by one of the optometry residents at the VA that I work at (rarely) that has 3 different pictures of ticks attached to the conjunctiva and lids.
Good stuff.
bt
Posts: 299 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jul 2007
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lpkayak
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i have seen cats with so many ticks attached around the eyes you can't count them.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
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Sorry, I think the pain might be clouding my disposition just a tad.
(either that or the morphine)
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
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NOT funny!!!
I was so ouuuueeee oooouuuueeee after thinking how creepy it would be to have ticks in my eyes that I decided to take a quick break and grab some dinner to take my mind off that one.
Of course I had JUST mentioned witches and other scary things... so I was a bit on edge.. just a little bit.
I got a plate and reached IN the fridge... and as I was taking out the ketsup a little lizzard jumped out of nowhere on my hand and ran up my arm!
HOLY COW!!!! I jumped a country mile!
NOT FUNNY MELANIE REBER!!!
NOT funny at all! STOP your laughing!!!
I'll get you my little pretty! And your little dog too!
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