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Prognostic Factors in Tick Paralysis

Description

Tick paralysis is an envenomation associated with a variety of ticks that affects animals and humans worldwide. The toxin appears to be a pronase-resistant protein produced in the salivary gland of the tick and released in the tick's saliva during blood feeding. It acts as a presynaptic neurotoxin at the neuromuscular junction. Some patients may have a serious course and fatalities have been reported.


 

Factors associated with a more prolonged or fatal course:

(1) occurrence in children, especially those under 5 years of age

(2) delay in removal of tick, with attachment for several days (peak production in saliva may take several days of feeding)

(3) occurrence in Australia

(4) more extensive and/or severe paralysis at presentation, including bulbar paralysis

(5) complications such as aspiration pneumonia

Location

Effect of Tick Removal

Australia

paralysis may progress after removal of the tick

North America

usually associated with progressive recovery. This may occur shortly after tick removal, but sometimes there may be an interval of several days before improvement is seen.

 


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