 As soon as the tick is removed, as was the case for little Ruby, the child starts getting better within hours, Northam said. Well, that's good to hear. And the CDC says movement is typically regained within 24 hours of tick removal. Northam said the region typically only sees a couple of these cases per year, and sometimes they can be misdiagnosed for other neurological illnesses. That's why it's always best to see a doctor, something Ruby's family is glad they did. If one little tick got this little girl, you know there's more than one out there, a grandma said.