Tick bite on ds arm...

[Meltinthemiddle]

It was absolutely tiny but had no body so not sure if he's knocked the body off in the shower as just a tiny black dot. Dh has removed what was left assuming it's the head. I'm now panicking in case of lime disease. Our local GP and minor injuries unit are completely overstretched and turning people away so don't want to go unless absolute emergency. Any advice??

I would definitely contact gp or 111 and get hold of antibiotics as Lyme disease is awful.

I m sorry I can't help in terms of specific advice hopefully someone will be along soon but no harm to photograph the site with a coin beside it (for perspective. ) if you are worried about rednes or swelling mark around the edges of the red area with a marker / pen that way you can monitor if it is getting worse /

Call gp for antibiotics.

You don’t need to do anything unless he develops signs of Lyme disease www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/symptoms/
My 4 year old got bitten two weeks ago (I pulled it out) and I didn’t think too much of it (apart from how gross they are) as he’s had a couple before, but by next evening he had a bullseye rash so tomorrow he’s finishing a two week course of antibiotics. It was out of hours when we saw the rash so I rang 111 and they took it seriously. So just be vigilant

We've had a few tick bites here in the last couple of years and have removed them and kept an eye. GP very probably won't hand out antibiotics 'just in case'. Keep an eye out for the bullseye rash.

Does he have a bullseye mark? If not, he’ll almost certainly be fine - I’ve been picking around a dozen of my boys each week for the last few months. As long as you get them off quickly they’re almost always fine - do you know how long it was likely to have been there?

bluesurfer GP won’t prescribe antibiotics just because someone had a tick. OP hasn’t even said if there’s a rash.

30% of people with Lyme don't get the bullseye rash so don't assume no rash means he hasn't got it.

Don’t panic! Watch out for any sign of a bullseye rash around the bite spot, or a fever.
The official advice is to seek medical help (antibiotics) if you experience either of these.

Just to reassure you a bit, the majority of ticks do NOT carry Lyme disease. And you’re more likely to be infected if you’ve had the tick on you for 24 hours. If the tick is tiny and you’ve removed quickly it’s v unlikely to be a problem. But definitely keep an eye out for a rash.

@Northernexile

We've had a few tick bites here in the last couple of years and have removed them and kept an eye. GP very probably won't hand out antibiotics 'just in case'. Keep an eye out for the bullseye rash.

We live in an area riddled with ticks - if the GP handed out antibiotics for every tick we’d have a antibiotic shortage. However, they immediately give them to anyone with a bullseye rash.

Yeah we get ticks all the time (have deer wandering through the garden so it's the price we pay) and all we do is note when/where and keep an eye out for a couple of weeks. Not just for a rash but for general feeling unwell. Tiny tiny ones may not have yet fed, they get quite engorged with blood when they have fed.
No need to panic, just keep a watchful eye. I removed 7 in one go from my DH the other day!

I think you’re overreacting
Unless if misunderstood tick bite doesn’t equal antibiotics

I think tick bite means slight chance of lime disease if tick was carrying it so be alert for signs eg the bullseye thing

I wish I didn’t read this! Ticks are a regular occurrence for us where we live, especially during summer. I’ve had at least 5 this summer. My children have had at least one each. I think as long as you get the full tick out you’re fine. If you’re very worried make an appointment with the GP but unless there’s signs of Lyme disease I wouldn’t call it an emergency.

Yeah I'm just worried as I think he must have knocked it in the shower as definitely no body attached just the head 😔. We've got it out as far as I can see and it looks a bit red so will keep an eye on it! The dog had one too but had the body attached 🤦‍♀️ both seem to attract them 😬.

How is he today OP? Any sign of a rash?

@DefinitelyNotAHastyNameChange

How is he today OP? Any sign of a rash?

Hi Definitely it's just a bit red. Doesn't look infected though and no rash so will keep an eye on him. Thank you for asking😊

For future reference, you can send the tick off to be tested and it will tell you if you need antibiotics. Not sure it works if you've only got the head left though!

Any update on this?

@mushforbrain

You don’t need to do anything unless he develops signs of Lyme disease www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/symptoms/ My 4 year old got bitten two weeks ago (I pulled it out) and I didn’t think too much of it (apart from how gross they are) as he’s had a couple before, but by next evening he had a bullseye rash so tomorrow he’s finishing a two week course of antibiotics. It was out of hours when we saw the rash so I rang 111 and they took it seriously. So just be vigilant

All That.

We've all been bitten by ticks. Nobody got ill.
I've read it's when ticks hang on for days they become most likely to give you something, and even so, only a small minority of UK ticks carry the germ at all.