Tick paralysis

Diseases selectively targeting spinal cord and brainstem motor neurons (e.g. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the familial spinal muscular atrophies) or the presynaptic component of neuromuscular junctions (e.g. Lambert-Eaton syndrome, botulism and Ixodes tick paralysis) cause weakness without sensory impairment. Disorders involving the enteric nervous system (e.g. Chagas disease and Hirschsprung s disease) impair bowel motility. 

Differential Diagnosis With single cases, rather than clearly epidemic cases, the illness could be confused with Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, or tick paralysis. Other possible considerations may include enteroviral infections, as well as nerve agent and atropine poisoning. 

Ticks have a bad reputation for good reasons. Not only are they carriers of a number of diseases, the saliva of some can cause paralysis. North American natives were aware of tick paralysis, but the condition was officially noted as a disease of both animals and humans in 1912. The bites of at least 60 species of ticks can cause paralysis, which often does not appear until several days after the bite. The first indication is redness and swelling around the site of the bite. This is followed by neuromuscular weakness and difficulty in walking. If the tick is not removed, speech and breathing are affected, with eventual respiratory paralysis and death. Fortunately, removal of the tick results in a quick recovery of function. The exact mechanism of paralysis is not known but it appears to come from a substance that affects the neuromuscular junction. While not related to the venom of the tick saliva, the tick can also transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, typhus, and others. Table 13.1 lists some venomous arachnids. 

Ticks Bite - saliva neurotoxin - transmit other diseases Tick paralysis - weakness and difficulty walking -remove tick... 

D. K. Jones, In Tick Paralysis, J. D. Steward Memorial Course for Veteriarians, Proceeding of 149 Emergency Medicine and Critical Care University of Sydney Sydney, 1991. 

Cerebrospinal flnid is normal in botnlism bnt nsnally abnormal with other causes of neurologic illnesses. Brain, spine, and chest imaging may reveal other causes of the neurologic symptoms, such as hemorrhage, inflammation or neoplasm (36). Myasthenia gravis patients with paralysis will obtain brief relief from a test dose of edrophonium chloride, whereas a close inspection of the skin may reveal the cause of tick paralysis (36). 

Guillan-Barre syndrome, organophosphate poisoning, myasthenia gravis, magnesium intoxication, tick paralysis, atropine poisoning. 

Tick paralysis A disease characterized by fever and paralysis due to anticoagulants and toxins secreted into a tick s bite via the ectoparasite s saliva. 

Paresthesias ascending paralysis tick attached to skin... 

Ascending flaccid paralysis alter bites by several tick species... 

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