Northern Rivers Nurse Hospitalized After Hundreds of Ticks Removed
Michelle Colpus, a nurse from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, was hospitalized last week after hundreds of ticks were removed from her skin following a bushwalk in Nightcap National Park. The incident led to significant skin irritation and the resurfacing of previous stroke symptoms, prompting expert advice on tick bite prevention.
Incident Details
Michelle Colpus stated she believes she unknowingly brushed past a cluster of larval ticks during her bushwalk. Upon returning home and showering, she experienced itching and developed welts on her arm, which rapidly spread across her body. Her husband initially attempted to remove what they believed were plant prickles, but the irritation intensified. Using a macro camera lens, they identified hundreds of paralysis ticks embedded in her skin.
Colpus stated she believed larval ticks may have transferred from her hair to her body during her shower.
Despite applying a tick-killing agent and taking antihistamines, Colpus's condition worsened, leading her to seek hospital care. At the hospital, a nurse spent two hours removing the parasites. Colpus estimates that over 600 ticks were removed from her body, combining efforts at home and in the hospital.
Medical Impact and Risks
The tick bites caused significant skin irritation and also triggered symptoms related to a stroke Colpus had experienced 10 months prior, including foot and leg pain and balance issues. These resurfaced stroke symptoms subsided after the ticks were removed.
Dr. Kayvan Etebari, an entomologist at the University of Queensland, confirmed that the presence of hundreds of small juvenile ticks, often referred to as 'seed ticks,' in clusters is biologically plausible. Dr. Etebari warned that tick bites can cause various health issues, including:
- Local irritation
- Severe allergic reactions
- Tick paralysis
- Mammalian meat allergy (MMA), which is a severe allergy to mammal products, linked to sensitization to alpha-gal from tick bites in Australia.
Prevention Measures
Dr. Etebari provided several recommendations for individuals engaging in outdoor activities in tick-prone areas:
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks.
- Tuck pants into socks.
- Use insect repellent.
- Perform a full body and hair check after outdoor activities.
- Carry a tick-freeze spray in areas known for ticks.
- Stay on cleared tracks and avoid contact with long grass and low vegetation.
Recovery and Outlook
One week after the incident, Colpus's welts have subsided, though she continues to experience itching. She is currently awaiting testing results to determine if she has developed MMA, which can manifest weeks after a bite. Colpus emphasized the importance of awareness and preparedness for those engaging with nature.