There are other reasons to be concerned about tick feeding. The can transmit a number of diseases and create some very real health concerns. Everyone who participates in outdoor activities should be informed about these potential problems. Some people have an allergic-tap reaction to the salivary secretions of the tick. This can cause tick paralysis, particularly if the bite is at the base of the skull on the back of the head.
Paralysis can affect certain parts of the body or it can result in nearly total paralysis.
This happens most often in children and small adults. As disturbing as it seems the paralysis begins to disappear with the removal of the offending tick, and total recovery can be expected. Another reaction to the salivary secretions is tick toxicosis. It is essentially a poisoning of the host even though no venom is injected. It begins with redness and swelling at the site of the tick bite and can become quite serious, even fatal.