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.
How do you remove the tick?
The simplest and quickest way to remove a wood 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 its head). Apply a steady upward pull until it releases its 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.
Tiny deer ticks need to be scraped off with a knife blade or 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. A recent study by Dr. G.R. Needham showed that embedded ticks
do not back out with the application of a hot match or when covered with petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, or rubbing alcohol.
In the past, it was thought that these substances would block the tick's breathing pores and take its mind off eating. Unfortunately,
ticks breathe only a few times per hour.
How can you help prevent tick bites?
Children and adults who are hiking in tick-infested areas should wear long clothing and tuck the end of pants into socks.
Apply an insect repellent to shoes and socks. (Permethrin products are more effective than DEET products against ticks.) During
the hike perform tick checks using a buddy system every 2 to 3 hours to remove ticks on the clothing or exposed skin. Immediately
after the hike or at least once a day, do a bare skin check. A brisk 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, the child will usually be unaware of its presence. Favourite 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 18 to 24 hours of feeding. Also the tick is easier to remove before it becomes
firmly attached.
When should you call your child's health care provider?
Call immediately if:
Call during office hours if:
| Last Reviewed | Reviewed by |
| June 21, 2004 | Andrew James, MBChB, FRACP, FRCPC |
