It was just a Tuesday. Takeout, TV, and bed.
Then came the gasp from the bathroom.
I found Emily standing in the shower, water still running, face pale, holding something small and dark in her trembling hand.
She opened her palm.
A tick. Fully engorged. Swollen to nearly the size of a blueberry.
My stomach dropped. This wasn’t just an ordinary bug-it was a parasite that had likely been feeding unnoticed for days.
What followed was a night of frantic internet searches, phone calls, and a crash course in tick-borne illnesses.
The Reality of Ticks: Small but Serious
Many people assume they would immediately notice a tick attached to their body.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Ticks are remarkably stealthy:
- They are extremely small before feeding.
- Their bites are usually painless.
- They often attach in hidden areas.
- They can remain undetected for days.
Common hiding spots include:
- The scalp
- Behind the ears
- Along the hairline
- Underarms
- Groin area
- Behind the knees
Because Emily had thick hair, the tick remained hidden until it finally detached during her shower.
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