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 BITE.

(To go directly to this topic, click on the link following this document.)

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.

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000. Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP

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See related topics:

• Insect Bite