Once a tick reaches a person, it may crawl around the body looking for a suitable place to attach.
The scalp can be particularly easy to overlook because hair can hide a small tick.
Children who spend time outdoors may therefore be exposed while playing in gardens, parks, wooded areas, fields, or other places where ticks are present.
A tick can also attach to other parts of the body, including behind the ears, around the waist, under the arms, behind the knees, or in other areas where skin is relatively protected.
Why Can the Tick Become So Large?
The swollen appearance in the photograph is likely related to blood feeding.
When a tick attaches, it uses specialized mouthparts to remain connected to the skin while feeding. As it consumes blood, its body can expand substantially.
This means that a large, rounded tick does not necessarily indicate that it is a different type of creature. It may simply have been attached long enough to become engorged.
The longer a tick remains attached, the more important proper removal and follow-up become.
The amount of time required for disease transmission varies depending on the tick species and the pathogen involved. Some infections can potentially be transmitted relatively quickly, while others generally require longer attachment.
Because the timing differs, it is not possible to determine the risk simply by looking at the tick.
What Should You Do If You Find a Tick on a Child?
If a tick is attached to the skin, it should generally be removed as soon as possible.
The usual approach is to use fine-tipped tweezers.