Tick bites: First aid - Mayo Clinic

Most tick bites are painless and cause only minor signs and symptoms, such as a change in skin color, swelling or a sore on the skin. COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion. ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. 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Butsometickstransmitbacteriathatcauseillnesses,includingLymediseaseandRockyMountainspottedfever.Ingeneral,totransmitLymediseaseatickneedstobeattachedtoaperson'sskinforatleast36hours.Otherinfectionscanbetransferredinafewhoursorevenafewminutes. Totakecareofatickbite Removethetickpromptlyandcarefully.Usefine-tippedforcepsortweezerstograspthetickasclosetotheskinaspossible.Gentlypulloutthetickusingaslowandsteadyupwardmotion.Avoidtwistingorsqueezingthetick.Donothandlethetickwithbarehands.Donotusepetroleumjelly,fingernailpolishorahotmatchtoremoveatick. Securethetickandtakeapicture.Apictureofthetickcanhelpyouandyourhealthcareprovideridentifywhattypeitisandwhetheryouareatriskofatransmitteddisease.Youcantrapthetickinapieceoftapefordisposalinthegarbage.Yourprovidermaywanttoseethetickoraphotoifyoudevelopnewsymptoms. Washyourhandsandthebitesite.Usewarmwaterandsoap,rubbingalcohol,oraniodinescrub. Whentoseekemergencycare Call911oryourlocalemergencynumberifyoudevelop: Asevereheadache Difficultybreathing Paralysis Heartpalpitations Whentocontactyourdoctor Youaren'tabletocompletelyremovethetick.Thelongerthetickremainsattachedtotheskin,thegreatertheriskofgettingadiseasefromit.Yourskinmayalsogetirritated. Therashgetsbigger.Asmallbumpmayappearatthesiteofthetickbite.Thisistypical.Ifitdevelopsintoalargerrashoryoudeveloparashanywhere,possiblywithabull's-eyepattern,itmayindicateLymedisease.Therashusuallyappearswithin3to14days. Consultyourprovidereveniftherashdisappearsbecauseyoumaystillbeatriskofhavingthedisease.Yourriskofcontractingadiseasefromatickbitedependsonwhereyouliveortravelto,howmuchtimeyouspendoutsideinwoodyandgrassyareas,andhowwellyouprotectyourself. Youdevelopflu-likesignsandsymptoms.Fever,chills,fatigue,muscleandjointpain,andaheadachemayaccompanytherash. Youthinkthebitesiteisinfected.Signsandsymptomsincludepain,changeinskincolororoozingfromthesite. Youthinkyouwerebittenbyadeertick.Youmayneedantibiotics. Ifpossible,bringthetick,oraphotoofthetick,withyoutoyourdoctor'sappointment.   Thereisaproblemwith informationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatethe informationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. GetthelatesthealthinformationfromMayoClinic’sexperts. Signupforfree,andstayuptodateonresearchadvancements,healthtipsandcurrenthealthtopics,likeCOVID-19,plusexpertiseonmanaginghealth. Email ErrorEmailfieldisrequired ErrorIncludeavalidemailaddress LearnmoreaboutMayoClinic’suseofdata. Toprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandhelpfulinformation,andunderstandwhich informationisbeneficial,wemaycombineyouremailandwebsiteusageinformationwith otherinformationwehaveaboutyou.IfyouareaMayoClinicpatient,thiscould includeprotectedhealthinformation.Ifwecombinethisinformationwithyourprotected healthinformation,wewilltreatallofthatinformationasprotectedhealth informationandwillonlyuseordisclosethatinformationassetforthinournoticeof privacypractices.Youmayopt-outofemailcommunicationsatanytimebyclickingon theunsubscribelinkinthee-mail. Subscribe! Thankyouforsubscribing OurHousecalle-newsletterwillkeepyouup-to-dateonthelatesthealthinformation. Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry ShareTweet Dec.10,2021 Showreferences Tickbites.MerckManualProfessionalEdition.https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/bites-and-stings/tick-bites.AccessedOct.14,2021. Tickpreventionandpropertymanagement.MaineCenterforDiseaseControl&Prevention,DivisionofDiseaseSurveillance.https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/tick-prevention-and-property-management.shtml.AccessedOct.14,2021. Tickremoval.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html.AccessedOct.14,2021. Symptomsoftickborneillness.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/symptoms.html.AccessedOct.14,2021. Lymedisease:Whatyouneedtoknow.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/toolkit/index.html.AccessedOct.14,2021. TintinalliJE,etal.Zoonoticinfections.In:Tintinalli'sEmergencyMedicine:AComprehensiveStudyGuide.9thed.McGrawHillEducation;2020.https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/.AccessedOct.14,2021. Hu,L.EvaluationofatickbiteforpossibleLymedisease.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedOct.14,2021. Tickattachmentandtickbornediseases.MaineCenterforDiseaseControl&Prevention,DivisionofDiseaseSurveillance.https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/tick-attachment-and-tickborne-diseases.shtml.AccessedOct.14,2021. WalkerLE(expertopinion).MayoClinic.Oct.29,2021. SeealsoGotatick?GetatweezersMayoClinicMinute:WhatistheAsianlonghornedtick?MayoClinicMinute:WilltherebeaLymediseasevaccineforhumans?Slideshow:GuidetodifferenttickspeciesandthediseasestheycarrySummerskinrashes Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. 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