Tick lodged in young woman’s ear leads to sudden hearing loss and vertigo

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a blacklegged tick, which is also known as a deer tick. (CDC via AP, File)

A rare medical case involving a tick lodged in a young woman’s ear canal has highlighted the serious risks of insect infestation and tick-borne diseases.

According to a case study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, a 21-year-old woman from Nepal experienced sudden hearing loss, vertigo and ear pain before a tick was identified and removed by doctors.

About the case

The patient reported a sudden onset of “piercing” ear pain on her right side, along with dizziness, nausea and decreased hearing. These symptoms extended over the course of a week.

Doctors at the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, Nepal said there was no prior history of upper respiratory tract infection, ear discharge or instrumentation in the ear.

A Weber test – a hearing test that uses a tuning fork to detect hearing loss in one ear, in this case, to the left ear – was performed on the patient. It revealed “severe-to-profound” hearing loss in the right ear and concluded nerves tasked with detecting sound were not working well.

The study said an otoscopy, or a visual inspection of the ear canal, revealed her right ear was congested, and further examinations uncovered a dead tick lodged in the side of it, causing inflammation and damage to her inner ear.

The condition known as acute labyrinthitis – inflammation of the inner ear – can result in severe complications if left untreated, including balance issues and facial nerve damage. Tick saliva can contain toxins that damage nerves, the study said.

Doctors removed the tick using suction and a pair of forceps, followed by a course of medications to reduce inflammation, control pain and prevent infection.

Within four weeks, her symptoms completely resolved and her hearing was restored.

Why this matters

Authors of the study emphasized that ticks could spread of range of diseases including Lyme disease.

Health Canada encourages preventative measures including wearing light coloured clothing to see ticks easier, closed-toe shoes, long-sleeves shirts, long pants tucked into socks and special clothing designed to repel ticks.

The health agency also advised the use of insect repellents, property maintenance, putting clothes in the dryer to kill any possible ticks, and checking yourself, kids and pets for signs of ticks.