To think this is a tick? (Urgent!!)

[britneyisfree]

Please help, I'm not from the country so I know nothing about stuff like this.

My DD went for a walk with nursery and has come home with this on her leg. She says it hurts.

Bumping this for myself as I am in a panic

Yes, I agree. I'm not sure what to do about it. When it was the dog, we'd put nail varnish remover on a cotton bud and dab around the skin.

Do not pull it off. There's a gadget- I think I'd go to a walk in centre.

Hard to see, looks like a tick. You need to twist it very gently up and out. Don’t cover it in vasaline or anything like that and don’t just pull it out

Could be, get some tweezers and pull out? Google how to remove ticls, think its quite easy

Looks like one to me. Don't pull it out in a panic, that will make it worse. Go and get a tick removal tool

Looks like one to me. The trick is to twisting it off without leaving the head inside. Vets or chemist should sell a tick remover.

It does look like a tick. Use tweezers to gently pull it up from close to the skin.

Yup - looks like a tick to me. Do you have walk-in close by?

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removingaa_tick.html

How compliant is she?

It IS a small tick (nymph). Try not to worry. My baby got one sitting on grass. The GP said to cover it in vaseline overnight to smother it, then it will let go and you should be able to tweeze it.

You're supposed to remove ticks, grab with tweezers close to skin, don't squeeze and pull straight up and out

Yes it is. Very common. Do NOT just pull it straight out. Go to a vets or pharmacy and buy a special tick hook to remove it safely, mouthparts and all.

Once it’s out you need to watch for any flu symptoms or a bullseye red circle. It’s unlikely, but better to be safe as you can get Lyme disease treated if you catch it early.

I don't think you should twist it out. Just pull continuously and gently.

I think the advice once removed is to keep it stored in a fridge for a month in case you feel unwell after it is removed it can then be tested.

I agree there are tools as we use them to remove from the dogs, tick twisters, not sure if that's used to remove them from humans too

Definitely don't worry and don't try to tweeze before it is dead from vaseline. That is okay for dogs and pets, but for people, you might leave legs in (ew) which a nurse would need to remove.

The best thing to do is to pop to a pharmacy and get the tool to remove it properly. The only problem is it doesn't look like it's taking on much blood, so it might shift spots, so personally i wouldn't let it out of my sight. Slather it in vaseline. It needs to breath so it will let go.

Thank you everyone. No walk in near by but I'll call the doctors as I don't have a tick removal thing!!!

If you attempt to pull it out make sure its head comes with the body. I'd recommend using a tick remover tool (pet shops will have them). My husband had one, used tweezers but the head didn't come out, gp sent him to a&e and they used a tiny scalpel to remove it, bluergh.

I don't have Vaseline - any alternatives I can use to smother it??

Yes. Google how to remove them properly.

Call your local pharmacy and ask if they keep tick-removal tools. Or ring your surgery and ask if the practice nurse can show you how. Once it's out, disinfect as with any other insect bite.

I used dental floss which was a method I found online and it worked. Wrap is tightly around as close to the skin as you can and then pull very gently and it should remove the whole thing intact.

Butter?

Don't smother it with vaseline. It causes distress to the tick which in turn can cause them to regurgitate or secrete excess saliva. Use fine tipped tweezers, grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull upwards. Wash the bite with soap and water. Check for other ticks!

If it’s any consolation I get bitten usually half a dozen times a year. My hiking and biking friends call me the tick magnet! Not had Lyme yet. But do keep an eye out for any rash or symptoms.