Treating Tick Bites: Hospital Protocols And Procedures

Tick bites can be harmless and often don't require medical treatment. However, some ticks carry harmful germs that can cause diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is important to remove a tick as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection. If you find a tick attached to your skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible, then pull it away with steady, even pressure. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer. If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see a doctor.

Remove the tick as soon as possible

It is important to remove a tick as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection from tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks must bite to spread their germs, so if you find an attached tick, do not panic, but remove it promptly.

To remove the tick, grasp the tick's mouthparts against the skin using fine-tipped or pointed tweezers. If you do not have tweezers, use your fingers, but be careful not to squeeze the tick's body, as this may force infected fluid into the skin. Pull the tick away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the tick mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, do not panic. Your body will naturally push the mouthparts out over time, or you can remove them with tweezers.

After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer. Do not use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances to try and make the tick detach from the skin, as this may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin.

Once the tick is removed, observe the bite site over the next two weeks for any signs of an expanding red rash or flu-like symptoms. Consult with your healthcare provider about sending the tick to a lab to be tested for pathogens and consider the utility of sending the tick for identification and analysis of potential infectious agents. However, the CDC strongly discourages using the results from these tick tests when deciding whether to use antibiotics after a tick bite, as positive or negative results can be misleading. If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor.

Use tweezers to grasp the tick

If you find a tick attached to your skin, it is important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce your risk of getting a tickborne disease. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use tweezers to grasp and remove a tick:

Firstly, ensure you are using clean, fine-tipped tweezers. If fine-tipped tweezers are unavailable, regular tweezers or your fingers can be used. However, it is important to avoid squeezing the tick's body when using your fingers, as this may force infected fluid into your skin.

Next, grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Use the tweezers to firmly grip the tick's head or mouthparts, being careful not to squeeze its body. It is important to pull the tick away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, jerk, or rock the tick from side to side, as this can cause the tick mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.

Removing the tick may take some time and patience, especially since the long mouthparts are covered with barbs. Continue to pull steadily until the tick releases its grip on the skin and you can ease the tick's head straight out. If any part of the tick remains in the skin, do not panic. These embedded mouthparts do not transmit Lyme disease, and your body will naturally push them out over time as your skin heals. If needed, you can also use tweezers to remove any remaining mouthparts.

After successfully removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.

Wash the bite area and your hands

If you find a tick attached to your skin, it is important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce your risk of getting a tickborne disease. You should not wait for a doctor or other healthcare provider to remove the tick, as this could increase your risk of infection.

Once the tick has been removed, it is important to wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly. This is to prevent any further infection and to remove any potentially infected fluids from your skin. Wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.

Washing the bite area and your hands is a simple but crucial step in treating a tick bite. It helps to ensure that any harmful germs or bacteria that may have been transmitted by the tick are removed and do not spread. This can reduce the risk of developing more serious infections or diseases, such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be caused by tick bites.

It is important to be thorough when washing the bite area and your hands. Pay close attention to the bite area, ensuring that you clean the surrounding skin as well. If possible, use soap and water, as this is the most effective way to remove any potential irritants or pathogens. Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer can also be used if soap and water are not available. Make sure to dry the area and your hands thoroughly after washing.

In addition to washing the bite area and your hands, it is recommended to check your body carefully for any other ticks. Ticks often live in groups, so finding one tick on your body may indicate that there are others. Conduct a full-body tick check, paying close attention to areas such as the scalp, hair, behind the ears, the neck, and the armpits, as ticks can easily blend into these areas.

Identify the type of tick

It is important to identify the type of tick that has bitten you, as different ticks transmit different diseases and are found in different parts of the world. For example, the CDC identifies the American dog tick and the brown dog tick as types of dog ticks. Ticks can vary in size and colour, with some being larger and some being brown, reddish-brown, or darker, with lighter markings on their backs.

To identify the type of tick, you can use online tools and field guides. The CDC's Tick Bite Bot is an interactive tool that assists users in identifying ticks and determining the necessary healthcare after a tick bite. It asks a series of questions, such as the location and duration of the tick attachment, and provides information on recommended actions and resources. Additionally, selecting a specific region and time of year can help narrow down the type of tick, as tick activity varies across different areas and seasons.

It is crucial to act promptly when removing attached ticks to reduce the risk of contracting tick-borne diseases. Ticks should be removed as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible to avoid squeezing their body. If fine-tipped tweezers are unavailable, regular tweezers or fingers can be used, but it is important not to squeeze the tick's body. After removing the tick, it is essential to clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitiser.

While it is generally not recommended to test ticks for infections due to the potential for false assurance and the high standards required of testing laboratories, seeking medical attention is crucial if you develop any symptoms or flu-like illness after a tick bite.

Consult a doctor if you develop a rash or fever

If you develop a rash or fever after a tick bite, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Ticks can carry harmful diseases, such as Lyme disease, and the presence of a rash or fever may indicate that you have been infected.

Lyme disease, caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, can result in a distinctive rash known as erythema migrans (EM). This rash often appears as a bull's-eye pattern with a central red spot surrounded by a clear area and an outer ring. It is typically found at the site of the tick bite but can also occur in other areas of the body. EM rashes are often non-itchy and painless, so they may go unnoticed. However, some people experience itchiness and burning sensations around the lesion.

Another tick-borne disease that can cause a rash is Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This rash manifests as small reddish or purplish spots called petechiae. Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) is also characterised by a rash similar to that of Lyme disease, known as the Lone Star tick rash.

In addition to rashes, tick-borne illnesses can cause a range of other symptoms, including fever, chills, and body aches, muscle pain, extreme tiredness, and flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms in conjunction with a rash, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly.

When consulting a doctor, provide as much information as possible, including the appearance and location of the rash, any other symptoms you are experiencing, and the details of your tick exposure, such as when and where you believe you were bitten. This information will assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis and determining the best course of treatment.

Frequently asked questions