Summer is here, and ticks are out in full force.
While Lyme disease continues to infect children and moms alike, there’s a new tick-borne illness, and this one proves even more deadly.
Even worse, it is known to target children, and it’s critical for moms to do this one major thing to prevent it from ever harming their family.
Children love to play outside in the summer, and who could blame them?
The sun is shining, the nights are long, and there is so much to do.
But while summer is a great time to explore the great outdoors, it’s also the height of tick season.
Which means tick-borne diseases.
And even if you think you are prepared to face the great outdoors, think again.
One mom recalled a horrific event when her daughter woke up one morning and was unable to walk or speak.
Imagine the horror, of waking up your child, and discovering they’ve lost the ability to communicate, and not knowing why.
As it turns out, this girl suffered from tick paralysis, due to the saliva of a tick.
Parents reported:
“We had a bit of a scare this morning!” Griffin wrote on June 6. “Kailyn woke up and couldn’t walk! I was just thinking that her legs were asleep until I noticed that she couldn’t hardly talk!
After tons of blood work and a CT of the head UMMC has ruled it as tick paralysis!
PLEASE for the love of god check your kids for ticks! It’s more common in children than it is adults!”
Thankfully, doctors were able to determine the nature of her illness, before it took her life.
But sadly, not everyone is so fortunate.
Even if you take the normal precautions such as avoiding heavily wooded areas, and wearing tick-repellant spray, it’s simply not enough.
Moms, we can’t stress enough the importance of checking both yourself and your little ones for ticks when they come inside.
This means inspecting their scalp, behind their ears, under their armpits, behind their knees, and everywhere in between.
Institute a protocol in your family, that everyone who plays outside must undergo a thorough “tick check.”
No exceptions.
As Mommy Underground previously reported, the longer a tick is attached, the greater the risk of it feasting off blood and spreading disease.
And tick paralysis is caused by a neurotoxin found in the saliva of ticks and can be fatal.
Moms, this is nothing to mess with!
Don’t think it can’t happen to your family.
As a further precaution, avoid heavily wooded areas if at all possible.
It’s simply not worth the risk.
And if you do happen to find a tick on you or your child, make sure to remove the entire tick by getting as close to the surface as possible, and pulling it up nice and slow.
Have fun this summer outside, but be sure to be on the lookout for ticks, and train your children what to look for too.
What are some ways you protect yourself from tick-borne diseases?
Were you surprised to learn that one can become temporarily paralyzed from a tick?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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