Lyme disease warning after mum nearly misses tick hiding on daughter's ear

27 September 2023 , 10:48

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Parents are being urged to check behind their children's ears if they have piercings. File image (Image: Getty Images)

Parents of children with their ears pierced are being urged to check behind their lobes in case of a highly nasty pest.

As people head back to school for the start of a new year, infections and headlice run rampant. But there's one overlooked bug which can wreak a devastating impact if left untreated. Ticks can latch themselves onto humans and pets and are easily missed or mistaken for zits or moles. One mum's warning over the nasty insects left other parents wary and is being spread again in the hopes of avoiding serious damage later on.

The small spider-like creatures are known to burrow into skin resulting in swelling and itchiness. In rare cases, the parasites can spread Lyme disease - a serious bacterial infection which has been known to impact the nervous system and even result in blindness. In a post shared in May 2020, mum Megan Sullivan wrote: "So ticks are out. I know many parents check their children but theres [sic] one place I've never checked before.

"If your child has earrings, please check behind the backings! Natalie had a tick behind the backing of her earring. She thought it was a pimple and obviously it was not! I took the earring out before the pics. Check thoroughly!!" Ticks are more prevalent during warm spells and should be removed immediately once spotted, but doing so requires patience. Doctors recommend rubbing the pests with alcohol beforehand.

NHS guidance recommends using fine tweezers to pull the tick gently away from the skin without twisting or crushing it. The skin should be washed straight afterwards with soap and water, as well as an antiseptic cream being applied.

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A spokesperson said: "Don't use a lit cigarette end, a match head or substances like alcohol or petroleum jelly to force the tick out. Some vets and pet shops sell cheap tick removal devices. These may be useful if you often spend time in areas where there are ticks. If the tick’s mouthparts break off in the skin and cannot be removed, these may cause local irritation but should fall out naturally in time."

Susie Beever