Health Resources

Tick Bite

Main Symptoms

• A tick (small brown bug) is attached to the skin.
• A tick recently was removed from the skin
• The wood tick (dog tick) is the size of a watermelon seed and can sometimes transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever
• The deer tick is between the size of a poppy seed (pin head) and an apple seed, and can sometimes transmit Lyme disease
• The bite is painless and doesn’t itch; so ticks may go unnoticed for a few days
• Ticks eventually fall off on their own after sucking blood for 3 to 6 days

See More Appropriate Topic

• If not a tick bite, see INSECT BITES 

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You can't remove the tick
• You can’t remove tick's head that broke off in the skin (Reason: to prevent localized infection) (Note: if the removed tick is moving, it was completely removed)
• Widespread rash occurs 2 to 14 days following the bite
• Fever or severe headache occurs 2 to 14 days following the bite
• Bite looks infected (red streaking from the bite area, yellow drainage)
  (Note: infection doesn't start until at least 24-48 hours after the bite).

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• You think your child needs to be seen

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns
• Red-ring or bull's eye rash occurs around a deer tick bite (Lyme disease rash begins 3 to 30 days after the bite)

Parent Care at Home

• Tick bite with no complications and you don’t think your child needs to be seen

Home Care Advice for Tick Bites

1. Reassurance: Most tick bites are harmless. The spread of disease by ticks is rare.
2. Tick Removal:
   • Use a tweezers and grasp the wood tick close to the skin (on its head).
   • Pull the wood tick straight upward without twisting or crushing it.
   • Maintain a steady pressure until it releases its grip.
   • If tweezers aren't available, use fingers, a loop of thread around the jaws, or a needle between the jaws for traction.
   • Tiny deer ticks need to be scraped off with a knife blade or credit card edge.
   • Note: covering the tick with petroleum jelly, nail polish, or rubbing alcohol doesn't work. Neither does touching the tick with a hot or cold object.
3. Tick's Head: If the wood tick's head breaks off in the skin, remove it.
   • Clean the skin with rubbing alcohol.
   • Use a sterile needle to uncover the head and lift it out.
   • If unsuccessful, call your doctor.
4. Antibiotic Ointment: Wash the wound and your hands with soap and water after removal to prevent catching any tick disease. Apply antibiotic ointment to the bite once.
5. Expected Course: Tick bites normally don't itch or hurt. That's why they often go unnoticed.
6. Call Your Doctor If
   • You can't remove the tick or the tick's head
   • Fever or rash in the next 2 weeks
   • Bite begins to look infected
   • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms

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