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Original poster

What is this I’ve found on my daughters head? Is it a tick?

351 replies

Alwayswaiting · 26/09/2022 07:57

My daughter, 5, has had a temperature of 40 all night. Been in with me, sleeping in her knickers to keep her cool. Had some calpol.

This morning I’ve woken up to take her temperature and found what I think is a tick but I’m not sure?

I’ve pulled it out - and thrown it away - but it was alive when I pulled it out. Should I get my daughter checked over by a GP?

What is this I’ve found on my daughters head? Is it a tick?
OP posts:
allboysherebutme · 26/09/2022 22:33

Hoping for update. Sending hugs. X

MrsRinaDecker · 26/09/2022 22:36

Hope you all get some sleep and clear news in the morning.

ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 26/09/2022 22:36

Poppins2016 · 26/09/2022 21:28

@Museya15 I think they're referring to the Royal Alexandra (children's hospital) in Brighton. I also know Queen Alexandra in Portsmouth as 'QA'.

That's the one.

Great hospital but mad busy and the respiratory illnesses are making themselves known at the moment.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Children's health General health Skin conditions
Theonlyoneiknow · 26/09/2022 22:44

Hope you and your DD are getting some rest OP. Have been thinking of you both. I hate ticks, they are evil evil buggers. I make kids tuck their trousers into their socks if we go anywhere with long grass/heather and do a check after shower also. They like to hide in the hairline too, behind ears (as you know!).

There is a clinic in Edinburgh that can test a tick to see if it carries Lyme. Sounds grim but I now remove any ticks and freeze them - just in case symptoms start to develop - and the tick can be tested.

I wasn't aware of the dangers of Lyme at all and blissfully used to roam around the highlands (relatively speaking!) in shorts - then a friend got Lyme disease and I learned all about it.

Looks like you have caught it quickly (if it is indeed that OP) and can get sorted on some high dose antibiotics soonest which is the best course of action.

RosalindsAFuckingNightmare · 26/09/2022 22:45

I only learnt this year that humans can get ticks. Late DDog used to get them a lot, she was shaggy and loved running through long grass. It used to give me the shivers getting them off her, hate the bloody things. I hope you're LO is feeling better soon and it's nothing too serious. Thinking of you both.

Nocutenamesleft · 26/09/2022 22:50

My daughter had to have a tick dug out of her once. No numbing cream. They just got a needle and set to work. She really screamed. Was awful.

but the head had been left behind. It needed to come out, though they did finally get the numbing cream in her

Nocutenamesleft · 26/09/2022 22:51

My daughter had to have a tick dug out of her once. No numbing cream. They just got a needle and set to work. She really screamed. Was awful.

but the head had been left behind. It needed to come out, though they did finally get the numbing cream in her

Original poster
Alwayswaiting · 26/09/2022 22:56

She’s being admitted for further monitoring, I think they’re more concerned about her hip. They mentioned if her hip hurts again in the morning then an MRI.
I’ve just gotten here and swapped with my husband so I’ll stay the night with her. Thanks again everyone

OP posts:
xippo · 26/09/2022 22:57

hope she's ok op

TheClogLady · 26/09/2022 22:58

Hospitals can move at a glacial pace but I’m glad you went in.

Hope you both manage to get some sleep.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 26/09/2022 23:08

Hope you both manage some sleep

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 26/09/2022 23:09

I hope you get some sleep tonight and some really good news in the morning.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 26/09/2022 23:09

I hope you get some sleep tonight and some really good news in the morning.

mindutopia · 26/09/2022 23:21

You have absolutely done the right thing. My guess would be that it is Lyme’s disease.

The tick you found had been there quite awhile by the size, definitely more than 48 hours, so could have been bitten several days ago. BUT if you missed that, entirely possible that you missed another.

My youngest ds came out in a bullseye rash on his head/face a few months ago. We never saw a tick bite there though we live on a farm and remove lots of ticks, just not specifically there. I took him to GP, they said no, not due to a tick.

2 weeks later, rash returned but with a high fever (44c!) and joint pains in hips and knees. It took two more GPs to finally get a Lyme’s diagnosis.

We did 3 weeks of antibiotics and he was so much better after the first 48 hours. He’s had no issues since. My advice would be to push for answers. If I’d trusted the first 2 doctors we saw, my ds would have been much more poorly. The GP who finally diagnosed him was flabbergasted the others were so dismissive as she said his symptoms were classic Lyme’s.

DFOD · 26/09/2022 23:22

I hope she is feeling more comfortable and settled and you both get some rest.

ImustLearn2Cook · 26/09/2022 23:46

Hope your daughter gets better soon. 🌺🌸🌼

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 26/09/2022 23:56

Alwayswaiting · 26/09/2022 22:56

She’s being admitted for further monitoring, I think they’re more concerned about her hip. They mentioned if her hip hurts again in the morning then an MRI.
I’ve just gotten here and swapped with my husband so I’ll stay the night with her. Thanks again everyone

I've just skim read your thread. She's in the right place and I hope you both have a comfortable night.

Dontletthebastardsgrindyoudown · 27/09/2022 00:13

Hope you both manage a sleep Op. Such a worry for you but they’re helping and I hope you get some answers soon. Wishing your daughter a speedy recovery.

MelodyPondsMum · 27/09/2022 00:28

Hope she feels better soon and they get to the bottom of the hip pain 💐

TheLadyofShalott1 · 27/09/2022 02:00

As many others have said, I hope you both get a good night's sleep, and a quick diagnosis tomorrow so that they can start your DD on whatever treatment she needs.
I'm thinking of you both and attempting to send positive energies xx

SofiaAmes · 27/09/2022 03:16

The hip pain could be transient synovitis which is basically an inflamed hip joint triggered by a cold or fever. Ds got this right before he turned 5 a few days after finishing a bad cold. The good news is that it's treated with large doses of ibuprofen at home and goes away in a few days or a week and leaves no harmful long term effects. It was pretty scary when they were doing the xrays and ultrasounds and I think didn't end up needing an MRI because that was enough to diagnose it. It's rarer in girls than in boys and rarely reoccurs (except with DS who had it 3 or 4 times).

ThelmaDinkley · 27/09/2022 04:06

SofiaAmes my dd had that when she was 2. She just woke up one day and could only stand one leg. Frightened me to death but it turned out to be synovitis. The consultant explained like you’ve said it’s more common in boys although dd was a little tomboy. She was fine after a few days so I hope it’s something similar OP.

user1498572889 · 27/09/2022 05:57

Hope your DD had a good night and feels better this morning xx

MrsB16 · 27/09/2022 06:13

Hi OP, I hope your daughter is feeling better! Something very similar happened to my daughter at the beginning of the year (not the tick bite) but high fevers, trouble walking etc. we had a query for septic arthritis but it turned out to be something called osteomyelitis which is an infection in a bone and in children it normally happens in long leg bones or arms of children. My daughter was super rare as she had it in her spine and her arm but please ask the doctor if it could be this. We were fobbed off through 7 different appointments with our drs surgery, Out of hours and 3 trips to A&E before anyone took us seriously and it was so much worse than it could have been if she had had early intervention which is up to 5 days after the fever had started. It was eventually diagnosed through an MRI after multiple odd blood results with no real diagnosis. My poor baby was only 18 months when she developed it so was unable to communicate what was really wrong which made it more difficult. I’m not writing this to scare you but I’d never heard of it before and most people haven’t but it’s apparently common in children and high fevers and joint pain can sometimes be the first signs! I hope she’s feeling better soon x

greenacrylicpaint · 27/09/2022 06:24

irritable hip or osteomyelitis after a fever is a possibility.

definitely ask for those. especially osteomyelitis doesn't always show clearly on a scan. and dr often don't think about it.

when one dc had osteomyelitis the dr said it's often seen after a systemic illness (i.e. fever)

we were also asked if dc had close contact to cattle or drank raw milk as tb can present as osteomyelitis as well.

all the best.