theguardian.com
Tick Infestation in Ear
A woman discovers a tick and its offspring living in her ear canal after a trip to South Africa, leading to a trip to the emergency room and an unusual medical procedure.
English
United Kingdom
HealthLifestyleTravelEmergencyMedicalInsect
A&E DepartmentEarNoseAnd Throat (Ent) Specialist
AuthorHusbandTriage DoctorEnt Specialist
- What device was used to discover the problem and why?
- The couple went to the A&E department, where a specialist removed the tick and its eight offspring. The procedure was difficult because the tick's head was embedded in the author's skin.
- How did the health insurance company react to the claim?
- The author's health insurance almost did not cover the treatment due to the unusual nature of the claim, involving a tick infestation in the ear.
- What were the initial symptoms experienced by the author?
- The author experienced an earache after a trip to South Africa, which worsened over several days. She and her husband used a home otoscope and discovered a tick and its offspring living in her ear canal.
- Describe the medical intervention and the doctor's reaction.
- The doctor was surprised, stating that in his 30 years of practice, he had never encountered such a case. The author received antibiotics, and her ear pain resolved quickly after the tick's removal.
- What was the author's initial reaction to the situation and how did that change?
- The author initially hesitated to go to the hospital, believing the issue might be a simple scab. Her husband's insistence on using the otoscope and the subsequent discovery of a living tick led them to seek immediate medical attention.