A Nurse’s Horrifying Encounter with Ticks During a Bushwalk
A nurse from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Michelle Colpus, found herself in a terrifying situation after a routine bushwalk turned into a nightmare. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk in the Australian bush, especially during the months leading up to winter.
Michelle had visited Nightcap National Park with a friend, where they spent several hours photographing insects and fungi along a short trail. Unbeknownst to her, she had brushed past a cluster of tick larvae, which would soon cause her immense discomfort.
Upon returning home and taking a shower, Michelle noticed unusual itching on her arm, followed by welts appearing rapidly. Initially, she thought it might be something from a plant, but the situation quickly escalated. Her husband attempted to remove what he believed were tiny prickles, only for more welts to appear. As the problem worsened, Michelle became convinced that the issue was more serious than she initially thought.
Ticks Hiding in Hair and Skin
After spending over an hour trying to remove the irritants at home, Michelle decided to use her macro camera lens to get a closer look. What she saw was alarming — hundreds of paralysis ticks embedded in her skin. She believes she must have brushed against a group of larval ticks, which then attached themselves to her body during her shower.
As a nurse and experienced bushwalker, Michelle took immediate action by applying Lyclear, a treatment used to kill attached ticks, and took an antihistamine. However, she soon began feeling unwell and was admitted to the hospital.
“I said I had about 400 paralysis ticks, and they thought I was crazy,” she recalled. After a quick examination, the medical staff confirmed the severity of her condition. A nurse spent two hours removing the ticks, and Michelle described the experience as unbearable due to the intense itching.
Over 600 Ticks Removed
Michelle estimates that the combined efforts of tweezing at home and the hospital resulted in over 600 ticks being removed from her body. The parasites not only caused severe skin reactions but also triggered symptoms similar to those she had experienced following a stroke 10 months earlier, including pain in her foot and leg and a feeling of imbalance.
Dr. Kayvan Etebari, an entomologist and lecturer at the University of Queensland, emphasized the importance of awareness when it comes to ticks. He noted that while most tick bites cause local irritation, some can lead to severe allergic reactions, tick paralysis, and even mammalian meat allergy (MMA).
Preparing for a Bush Walk in Tick-Prone Areas
Dr. Etebari provided several recommendations for people venturing into areas where ticks are common:
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks
- Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from climbing up
- Use repellent to deter ticks
- Conduct a full-body and hair check after being outdoors
- Carry tick-freeze spray in tick-prone areas
He advised bushwalkers to take ticks seriously, particularly in coastal and bushy regions of eastern Australia. Staying on cleared tracks, avoiding contact with long grass and low vegetation, and checking the body, scalp, and clothing carefully after a walk are essential steps to reduce the risk of tick bites.
Recovery and Ongoing Concerns
One week after the incident, Michelle’s welts have subsided, though she still experiences some itching. She is unsure whether all the ticks have been completely removed from her home. Despite the ordeal, she encourages others to continue exploring nature, emphasizing the importance of awareness and preparation.
While her stroke-related symptoms have improved, Michelle is now waiting to see if she has developed MMA. This allergy, which can develop weeks after a tick bite, can cause severe reactions to meat and products derived from mammals. “I’m just praying I don’t get it,” she said. “That would definitely be the last thing I need.”
For more information on ticks, allergies, and prevention, individuals can visit the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy or NSW Health.
