To ask if there are any medical people on here who can help me with DD’s tick bite?

[LOLdollsEverywhere]

We found a tick on DD last week. We live in a Lymes Disease area, but we’re sure it couldn’t have been there for all that long as it was on her shoulder and we think we would have seen it.

I attempted to remove the tick with tweezers but unfortunately it didn’t come out intact. There was a small black bit left in. DH and I tried to remove this but were unsuccessful.

I called the GP who said to just keep an eye on DD for now, to look out for a rash on her and to keep an eye on her general health and to call back if any changes.

The bite sort of scabbed over and today, the scab has fallen off but the black bit is still in there. Is that okay? Shouldn’t her body reject that itself or do we need to do something for it to come out?

[SeaToSki]

This is a good article, basically just leave it alone unless it looks infected...then call the GP back. The article also goes through the symptoms to watch for

www.uptodate.com/contents/what-to-do-after-a-tick-bite-to-prevent-lyme-disease-beyond-the-basics/print

[Lollypop4]

Id see the Dr, it needs to be removed.
For future (hopefully not needed)this is advised for aninals but id imagine it would work the same for humans...
gently circulate the body, clockwise, of the tick, continuosly , it should come out intact.
works on pets really well.

[sparepantsandtoothbrush]

I'd leave it if she's well in herself and it doesn't look infected. And I'd also get a proper tick remover. Using tweezers will normally result in leaving the head in, a tick remover is easier to rotate*

*I'm not a medical person but have dogs and a child who seem to attract ticks for a past time

[Vieve1325]

If you’re in a tick area, invest in a tick card- it’s like a kind of nit comb for getting ticks off.

I’m also in a tick common area and I’d be nipping to the GP to have it removed.

[dontdisturbmenow]

You do need to watch for any signs of Lyme. They can show weeks later. The bull eye rash is very specific but not everyone has one. A fever, bone aches are also common but in any doubt, she should receive antibiotic immediately.

I think I read that only 2-5% of ticks carry the disease, so in all likelihood, she'll be perfectly fine.

[Destroyedpeople]

I don't know about people but I used to be a horse groom and I know it is essential for that bit to come put. However if it doesn't look infected prob better to leave it for now rather than poking about...

[Destroyedpeople]

In fact I would take her to the doc and discuss it.

[TwistyHair]

I’d leave it. Get a antiseptic on it. Keep an eye out for lymes as you don’t always get the rash. Also, tick cards are ok but the O’Tom tick remover hooks are much better. They’re more manoeuvreable. I’d get a pack. We’ve had loads of ticks where I live in a city park. They’re so unbelievable gross that I can’t even get over the fact that they exist.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

The black bit is the ticks head. You need to have it removed. You can do it yourself if you have proper tools and antiseptic. But probably better to go to minor injuries to have a nurse do it.


In future you do not remove a tick with tweezers, because as you have just experienced that rips it’s body from its head!

For future ticks: You get some Vaseline or lotion and put a big dollop over the tick. This suffocates it as they breathe like any insect through tubes in their exoskeleton. The tick will then stop biting and remove its head from your body so it can breathe. So you wait, until the tick stops biting and starts crawling and then flick it off you.
If you have no Vaseline, you can gingerly use a cigarette or fire lighter and hold flame close to tick until it becomes uncomfortable, and again stops biting and starts to crawl.

[Destroyedpeople]

The vase line is a good tip but I think twisting better than burning (old grooms' trick)

[Rhapsodyinpurple]

I had a tick and was told to go to minors in A & E. I was given antibiotics too.
The advice from the doctors was to go to A&E and never use a flame on it.

[JohnFinlaysNewTeeth]

Tweezers or a remover tool are the preferred method of extraction according to several sites including the nhs website.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

Every site absolutely does not recommend things like fire and petroleum jelly as it can cause the tick to burrow further in.

[TwistyHair]

Don’t do Vaseline or anything else like that. Burning it or alcohol. It can cause the tick to vomit into your blood which increases the risk of passing on any tick bourne diseases. Also be careful with tweezers because if you squeeze the body it also makes the tick vomit into your body. Tick remover is the best way. The hook ones.