• Chong Han Pek, Crystal Shuk Jin Cheong, Yan Lin Yap, Stephen Doggett, Thiam Chye Lim, Wei Chen Ong, and Jane Lim.
• Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
• J Emerg Med. 2016 Nov 1; 51 (5): e109-e114.

BackgroundTicks are blood-sucking arachnids that feed on all classes of vertebrates, including humans. Ixodes holocyclus, also known as the Australian Paralysis Tick, is capable of causing a myriad of clinical issues in humans and companion animals, including the transmission of infectious agents, toxin-mediated paralysis, allergic and inflammatory reactions, and mammalian meat allergies in humans. The Australian Paralysis Tick is endemic to Australia, and only two other exported cases have been reported in the literature.Case ReportWe report the third exported case of tick paralysis caused by I. holocyclus, which was imported on a patient into Singapore. We also discuss the clinical course of the patient, the salient points of management, and the proper removal of this tick species. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: With increasing air travel, emergency physicians need to be aware of and to identify imported cases of tick paralysis to institute proper management and advice to the patient. We also describe the tick identification features and proper method of removal of this tick species.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

31 keywords...

hide…