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Original poster

Help! Tick bite

11 replies

DreamsOfSun · 12/03/2025 20:03

Anyone have any experience with ticks?

I’ve just pulled this out of my 4-year-old’s head and have been looking at lots of conflicting advice about what to do now online. Panicking a bit that I might not have got it all out.

He was at forest school on Tuesday so I think that’s where he picked it up. Assume it’s a deer tick as there are lots of deer around there. Worrying about Lyme Disease 😥

Help! Tick bite
OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 12/03/2025 20:06

You can if you want to, pop it in a little pot in the freezer in case.

What I'd do is keep checking the site and if the bullseye rash doesn't appear you can assume there isn't Lyme's. If the rash does appear then get down to the dr (with frozen tick if you want) and ask for antibiotics.

watchseehear · 12/03/2025 20:07

Give your GP a call, they will advise.

watchseehear · 12/03/2025 20:08

BTW lyme does not always show a bullseye rash - although it is unlikely to be that I would err on the side of caution. I would ask GP for advice.

OtterMummy2024 · 12/03/2025 20:08

I would consider going to see your GP, personally. I had a tick bite and did not see the tick, but did then get a bull's eye rash that grew. GP was very happy to give me antibiotics. Your GP may be able to advise over the phone.

Original poster
DreamsOfSun · 13/03/2025 20:12

Thanks all. I took him to see the GP today and they’ve said just to keep an eye and get back in touch if he has any symptoms. As it happens, he’s actually coming to the end of a course of antibiotics for impetigo at the moment so with any luck that will have a bit of a protective effect if the tick was carrying anything nasty. And I’m definitely going to buy one of those remover tools so I’m a bit more prepared if he gets another!

OP posts:
Msmoonpie · 13/03/2025 20:22

You really don’t do anything unless you have a rash or other symptoms.

Ive had quite a few over the years from hiking etc.

TISagoodday · 13/03/2025 20:28

Keep the tick. If in any doubt that your child may have Lyme later down the line you can post the tick to a lab to check whether it's carrying it for peace of mind. Think it's about £50 but worth it if you want to be certain

Thingsthatgo · 13/03/2025 20:30

My dd recently had antibiotics for a suspect bullseye rash. The amount she had to take was phenomenal, she was on them for three weeks, and was taking approx 60ml of amoxicillin a day. I would be wary of thinking the antibiotics he has taken will provide protection.

watchseehear · 13/03/2025 21:10

TISagoodday · 13/03/2025 20:28

Keep the tick. If in any doubt that your child may have Lyme later down the line you can post the tick to a lab to check whether it's carrying it for peace of mind. Think it's about £50 but worth it if you want to be certain

that sounds like a good idea

Original poster
DreamsOfSun · 13/03/2025 21:26

Annoyingly I flushed the tick straight away - and then realised my mistake quickly when I started googling!

OP posts:
TISagoodday · 14/03/2025 14:59

DreamsOfSun · 13/03/2025 21:26

Annoyingly I flushed the tick straight away - and then realised my mistake quickly when I started googling!

Ah no! That's a shame. I live in the Highlands and one year I had a little gallery of ticks labelled and ready to post if needs be-
However you can still be on the lookout for symptoms- fever etc and get antibiotics if any of these come up or a blood test for your lo, both of which drs were happy to do with my little one when she had symptoms after

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