Tick Bites

What is a tick bite?

A tick is a small brown bug that attaches to the skin and sucks blood for 3 to 6 days. The bite is usually painless and doesn't itch. The wood tick (or dog tick) which transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever is up to 1/2 inch in size. The deer tick which transmits Lyme disease is the size of a pinhead. After feeding on blood, both of these ticks become swollen and easy to see.

How do I remove the tick?

The simplest and quickest way to remove a tick is to pull it off. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible (try to get a grip on his head). Apply a steady upward pull until he releases his grip. Do not twist the tick or jerk it suddenly because it may break off the tick's head or mouth parts. Do not squeeze the tweezers to the point of crushing the tick; the secretions released may contain germs that cause disease. If you don't have tweezers, use fingers, a loop of thread around the jaws, or a needle between the jaws to pull it out. Some tiny ticks need to be scraped off with the edge of a credit card.

If the body is removed but the head is left in the skin, use a sterile needle to remove the head (in the same way that you would remove a sliver). Apply antibiotic ointment to the bite once.

Wash the wound and your hands with soap and water after removal. Do not put a hot match on the tick or cover the tick with petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, or rubbing alcohol to try to make the tick back out. These methods do not work.

How can I help prevent tick bites?

• Be aware of the areas where ticks live. Be very careful if you walk, camp, or hunt in the woods of tick-infested areas.
• Try to stay near the center of trails and away from underbrush.
• When outdoors, have your child wear long-sleeved shirts tucked into his pants. The pants should be tucked into socks or boots. A hat may help, too. Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks before they reach the skin.
• Insect repellent containing permethrin can be put on clothing to repel ticks and other insects. Permethrin is more effective than DEET against ticks. Examples of these products include, Duranon, Permanone, and Congo Creek Tick Spray. Put it on clothes (especially pant cuffs), shoes, and socks. You can also put it on other outdoor items (mosquito screen, sleeping bags). Do not put this kind of repellent on the skin because it quickly loses its effectiveness on skin.
• During the hike do tick checks using a buddy system every 4 hours. Remove ticks on the clothing or exposed skin. Immediately after the hike or at least once a day, do a bare skin check. A shower at the end of a hike will remove any tick that isn't firmly attached.

  Because the bite is painless and doesn't itch, your child will probably not know it is there. Favorite hiding places for ticks are in the hair so carefully check the scalp, neck, armpit, and groin. Removing ticks promptly may prevent infection because transmission of Lyme disease requires at least 24 hours of feeding. Also the tick is easier to remove before it becomes firmly attached.

• Check pets for ticks after they have been outdoors.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call IMMEDIATELY if:

• You can't remove the tick or the tick's head.
• Your child has a fever or rash within the 2 weeks after the bite.

Call during office hours if:

• You think your child might have Lyme disease (your child has a rash that looks like a bull's-eye near the bite).
• You have other questions or concerns.