For many parents, running fingers through a child’s hair is a moment of comfort—a routine gesture of connection. It’s an opportunity to notice the small surprises of childhood: stubborn knots, stray crumbs, or perhaps a tiny toy fragment caught in the strands. These minor inconveniences are easily remedied and part of the natural rhythm of parenting.
But what happens when a parent encounters something unfamiliar and immobile instead? The discovery of a strange lump attached to a child’s scalp can turn an ordinary act into a profoundly unsettling experience. Fear, confusion, and urgency flood the mind as the parent seeks to understand what they’re seeing and how quickly to act.
Recognizing a Tick
Ticks are small arachnids, related to spiders and mites, that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles. On a child’s scalp, a tick may appear as a pale-gray or brown bump firmly attached to the skin. Unlike a loose hair or flake of dandruff, it resists movement, signaling that it is not benign.
Children are especially susceptible because hair provides a natural hiding spot, and outdoor activities—playing in grass, wooded areas, or parks—increase exposure. Young children may not notice minor scalp irritations, allowing ticks to feed undisturbed for days.
