Tick bite

Description Ticks are related t...

Description

Ticks are related to spiders. There are over 800 different types of ticks. Tick bites are more common during April through September. Ticks attach themselves to the skin and drink blood in the skin. Most ticks can be easily removed using tweezers and do not require other treatment. Some ticks carry other serious diseases such as: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Paralysis, Tick Borne Encephalitis and other Rickettsial infections. A person's risk of getting one of these diseases is associated with where they live in the US.

Symptoms

Skin irritation, mild itching at the bite, visible tick in the skin, mild redness. If the tick is causing other diseases a patient may experience fever, rash, swollen joints, vomiting, weakness, swollen lymph nodes or headache.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be done. Generally no other testing is needed unless the provider thinks the patient is at risk for other tick related diseases.

Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice

Treatment

The tick needs to be removed as quickly as possible. Avoid touching the tick. Gloves should be worn. If gloves are not available, use a piece of cloth or paper to pick up the tick after it is removed. If they are available, use tweezers to grab the tick as close to its head as possible. Pull the tick's head away from the skin, trying not to crush the body. Try to remove the entire tick at once, and if possible save the tick in a jar in case the doctor wants to examine what kind of tick it is. After removal clean the area with a mild soap and water. People should seek medical attention if all the tick cannot be removed, or if they develop other symptoms such as fever, rash, weakness, vomiting, muscle aches, or joint aching.