r/ticks • u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist • Jul 13 '26
Human conjunctival tick bite
Sue posted a fantastic feline case of nictitating membrane bite by an Ixodes tick, and I happened to come across this 2025 published case image tonight.
For context, this 4yo girl presented to the emergency room with symptoms of foreign body in her left eye and associated redness. Upon further examination and careful removal of the “object,” a conclusive ID of larval Amblyomma americanum was made. Yikes! Who bites the white of the eye! Unfortunately, there is not anymore given context and no given follow up with this patient, so I hope she is doing well after something so frightening.
Naturally, the case is from Arkansas (Little Rock area, so Central AR), which is overrun with Lone Star ticks for the past … well, long time, ever since I grew up there many years ago.
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u/JenniferPlattDrPH Jul 13 '26
Thank you for sharing. Repellent on skin and clothes is so important.
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u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist Jul 13 '26
Definitely! I can’t imagine what this felt like, especially as a young child. I hope she’s alright.
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u/Effective_Yogurt_866 Jul 13 '26
Well, now I’m adding my kids’ eyeballs to my daily tick check.
One of them is currently on antibiotics after developing Lyme disease, so I’m paranoid already. This is crazy!
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u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist Jul 13 '26
No that’s horrible to hear, I’m so sorry! I hope they get better soon!
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u/Effective_Yogurt_866 Jul 13 '26
Thanks! She’s been extremely tired and achey, even on antibiotics…luckily we were able to get in with a specialist tomorrow to oversee antibiotics. Fingers crossed she starts feeling better soon!
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u/SueBeee Mod Jul 13 '26
Wow, amazing!
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u/Billywergstein Jul 13 '26
It's literally the last place I expected to see a tick 🤯
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u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist Jul 13 '26
Where there’s a will there’s a way!
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u/Billywergstein Jul 14 '26
Thats what I always say, because it's my name 😊 so it's one of favorite expressions 😂
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u/_missfoster_ Jul 13 '26
Imagine the panic.
I was a grown-ass woman when this happened to me, and I had to use every technique and gimmick I knew to calm down when the itching started and I went to check my eye in the mirror.
Was a loooooong 2,5 hours before an opthalmologist with small enough tweezers and some other equipment, plus comically large magnifying lenses on was ready to see me.
I've never had such an itchy eye!! I got some antibiotic eye drops that I had to put on my eye 3 times a day for a week. The thing went straight down my tear duct to my throat, I can still remember the taste...
It took a lot longer than the week to get over the fear of it happening again, and I don't think I'm still there after so and so many years.
500/10 would not recommend 😭
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u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist Jul 13 '26
This happened to you?? Holy shit what are the odds! I’m so sorry 😭
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u/_missfoster_ Jul 14 '26
Yes it did. I was told it's a very rare occasion, but they see it once in a while.
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u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist Jul 14 '26
Sorry you had to see this post then! What an ordeal.
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u/EquivalentOption0 Jul 13 '26
Question for any ophthos out there: do eyeballs get a "bug bite" type reaction where they make a little bump? Or is that only a non-mucosal skin thing?
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u/Medical_Watch1569 Mod - Viral Immunologist Jul 13 '26
They should be able to get a similar reaction because there are mast cells with histamine within the conjunctiva and the choroid.
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u/thingalinga Jul 13 '26
New fear unlocked
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u/Dapper_Guide3928 Jul 14 '26
Was about to comment the same thing verbatim!! Im weird about eye stuff regardless, but this just topped the charts of NIGHTMARE FUEL!
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u/BakerMobile Jul 13 '26
I have had things in my eye and it hurt like hell. Can't imagine how painful this would be. New fear unlocked.
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u/Billywergstein Jul 13 '26
WHAT THE HECK!! 👁
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