Tick bite, please calm me -photos.

[Anonymousemouses]

On holiday in France (40 odd miles from Calais).

Visited some castle ruins yesterday and was wearing light cotton, full-length, Jean type trousers.

This morning I thought I had a scab, but realised it wasn't when I scratched it.

DH pulled it out with tweezers, but think it's north is left behind, but can't see anything.

We're going home Friday night, I've put antiseptic wound wash on.

Generally speaking there’s nothing to worry about but here’s some info.
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/injuries/skin-injuries/tick-bites/

I totally get that it feels alarming, but you'll most likely be fine. We get several each summer when we stay in the woods. Just keep an eye on it, use antiseptic cream, take an antihistamine if it's a bit itchy but do check out the info posted above. Don't forget to dispose of the tick properly (we flush them down the loo) and sterilise the tweezers.

Thank you a

Another really stupid question, you can't get rabies from ticks can you?

My dd had a tick I removed and no rash appeared and she was fine.

Googling suggests the answer is no

No rabies is from mammal bites.

My family get lots living in the country. Just keep an eye out for the symptoms of lymes which will need a Gp visit.

You can’t get rabies from ticks.

There is a disease called tick borne encephalitis. But that area of France is very low risk, and the European variant of the disease is usually mild. It is more of a worry in Asia.

I wouldn’t worry unduly, lots of people get tick bites all the time and are fine.

I'm not so confident as PP. You can get Lyme disease from tick bites, amongst other things eg bartonella. There is a window of opportunity after a tick bite, where the appropriate antibiotics will head that off. Antibiotics are a mixed blessing, of course, but Lyme disease ruins lives, so in your shoes I'd get to the gp ASAP.

Keep a look out for the bullseye rash and keep the tick in a sealed plastic bag just in case as they can be tested for carrying Lyme.

No unless you've been bitten by a rabied dog or something else with teeth. Take photo of tick bite and note down date. Check if a rash appears over days/weeks and then get checked out for Lyme.

https://www.hopkinslyme.org/lyme-education/what-to-do-after-a-tick-bite/

Lots of useful info. NB not everyone gets a rash and if they do, it's not always a bullseye. There's a poster you can click on at the above link that shows other types of Lyme rash.

BTW, there's acute Lyme and chronic Lyme - it was the latter I was referring to in my previous post.

This ⬆️ ⬆️

We get loads of them here because they seem to like the heathy area where we live and we get them in the garden. I've had two or three on me this summer. You need to get the head out if it's still in there. Tweezers aren't the best method because you have to twist. Can you get the little plastic tool from a chemist/pharmacy? Or vet, even. They are very quick and easy to use once you get the hang of it. But don't panic because the vast majority of the tick bites don't cause problems. I did have one that did - I came down with 'a cold' for a couple of days.

Edit to above: I see the John Hopkins info says not to twist. Maybe it depends on the tool you're using. I've never had success with tweezers as the body has always broken off and the head stayed in.

We all get several of these each year from country walks in the UK (despite precautions) and certainly aren't rushing off to the GP every time for antibiotics.

I'd advise you and anyone else with a tick bite to:

• remove it cleanly with sharp tweezers or a tick tool (which you have done - if there were parts left they'd be really obvious);
• treat the site with antiseptic cream or solution (which you have done);
• keep an eye on it over the next week, and if there's any sign of ongoing irritation or a rash (particularly a 'bullseye' rash) that's when you go to the GP and tell them you have a rash at the site of a tick bite and need antibiotics.

There's definitely part of it still in there, hard to see with naked eye, but visible magnified on phone.

No lime disease. Happend to me, 24 days of antibiotics. Was fine.

Hi OP, I would see a GP because the head still being increases the risk of infection generally. I dont think the head being left in increases the risk of lymes and apparently if tick is removed within 24 hours of biting you then the risk of lymes is low. Hope it doesn't dampen your holiday too much.

If you think there is something left in then you should get it looked at

Agree - sorry, I hadn't spotted that in your pic. Whether you need to see someone in France or whether it can wait until you're back in the UK is hard to say.

I wouldn't worry but I would go and see a pharmacist and get it looked at as the head hasn't come off.

In future don't use tweezers - get yourself a proper tick remover.

Why don't you go to a French AE using your GHIC card/Travel ins? and get the head removed, otherwise the very earliest you'll see your GP is next Monday.

I went to a MIU when i had a tick that i couldn't completely remove, in the UK, AB's aren't used as a preventative, only if you have lyme disease symptoms/rash, at least thats been my experience in the UK.

DH had exactly this and a round rash appeared, not classic tick rash but doesn't have to be also in France and GP here gave him 21 days antibiotics as had photo of tick.