Every Parent Needs to See What "Seed Ticks" Did to This Girl ASAP

As scientists predict that this could be the worst tick season in recent memory, one mom's viral warning is resonating with worried parents hoping to protect their children.

Beka Setzer posted a "PSA" on Facebook last summer along with eye-opening photos of her little girl in order to spread awareness to parents who have kids who love to play outside during the Spring and Summer — but don't realize just how small ticks can be or what to look for. "Emmalee was playing outside yesterday rolling around on the ground while enjoying the sprinkler," the Ohio mom wrote. "After coming inside and laying down for a nap, I just happened to notice tiny (and I mean TINY) little black dots all over her legs, abdomen, arms, and armpit area."

At first, Beka thought they must've been seeds. It wasn't until she couldn't wipe them off and had to scrape them that she realized they were ticks. "She must've been playing in or near a nest of tick larvae and was covered," Beka wrote. "I spent nearly an hour and a half picking off well over 100 minuscule baby ticks off of her, gave her a long Dawn dish soap bath with repeated washing, washed all bedding, clothing, and toys she came into contact with afterwards and administered Benadryl."

The next morning, Emmalee woke up with a fever, bites all over her body, and a "hard, marble sized" swollen lymph node. "I want to make every parent aware of what these look like so you can be on the lookout," Beka wrote. They're not as easy to see as the ticks you're likely looking for on yourself or children."

If you spot a tick on your child, don't make the mistake of pulling it off. The tick's mouth can be left behind on your kid's skin and leave him or her still at risk for various infections including Lyme disease. Instead, it is recommended that you use a knife to scrape the tick off or a strong pair of tweezers with a magnifying glass. More information on seed ticks can be found here.