The patient is an active outdoorsy type 64 year old male c/o "itching around my belly button".
Positive for a past history of insect bites in the axillary, ankle, and waistband areas, this patient did not immediately seek treatment until noticing a small umbilical protrusion.
Initial belief was an umbilical hernia, yet no sensation was felt when the protrusion was clamped with a hemostat. Gentle retraction on hemostat allowed the movement of the protrusion which revealed a 0.5 cm Dermacentor variabilis. Further probing located a smaller 0.25 cm arachnid deeper inside the umbilicus.
The area was cleansed with isopropyl alcohol and TAO applied. Patient tolerated the procedure well, stating, "I think I might enter this in allnurses' "Gross Me Out" Contest!"
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I got to thinking about ticks and I'm not at all sure that they are literate.
My "No Ticks Allowed" tattoo may not do the job.
Or, the tick may be literate but have no morals or ethics. You know- the Rogue Ticks?
I learned that ticks do not like fragrances we humans find pleasing. (Hmmm... what does that say about me ad my body odor?) So I decided to employ a second line of defense: I'm going to stick one of those fragrance cones into my belly button!
GrumpyRN, NP
1,347 Posts
I wish there was a ?reaction instead of just the 4 we get.
I do however have to congratulate you Americans on finding yet more ways to gross the rest of the world out. ???