Ticks Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Everyone has a favorite way to remove ticks. Some are better than others. The greatest concern in removing a tick is the possible transmission of disease. Methods of removal that stimulate the tick to spit out even small amounts of their blood meal, or to pass infected saliva back into the host, may increase the likelihood of disease transmission.

Two cautions

• Commonly used methods such as a hot matchhead touched to the hind-parts of the tick, to covering or "painting" the tick with paint, nail polish, petroleum jelly, or gasoline may cause additional injury to the host (that's you or your pet) as well as stimulate the tick to spew out disease-causing germs.

• You should be concerned about removing the head and mouthparts. Because the tick is attached firmly to most hosts, rough or improper handling may result in portions of the head and mouthparts remaining embedded in the skin. This can be a site of infection and inflammation and might increase the likelihood of transmitting disease.

How to remove a tick

• Use a small pair of curved forceps or tweezers. If possible, wear some sort of hand protection such as gloves so you don't spread bacteria from the tick to your hands.

• Using the tweezers, carefully flip the tick over onto its back. Grasp the tick firmly with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Apply gentle pulling until the tick comes free. Twisting or turning the tick does not make removal easier because the mouthparts are barbed, not spiraled.

• Once removed, don't crush the tick because you may transmit disease. Rinse it down a sink or flush it down a toilet. Consider keeping it in a tightly closed jar or taped to a piece of paper. You may need to show the tick to the doctor if you become ill from the tick bite.

• The area of the bite should leave a small crater or indentation where the head and mouthparts were embedded. If significant portions of the head or mouthparts remain, they may need to be removed by a doctor.

• Thoroughly cleanse the bite area with soap and water or a mild disinfectant. Observe the area for several days for development of a reaction to the bite, such as a rash or signs of infection. Apply antibiotic cream to the area. Application of an antibiotic to the area may help prevent a local infection but does not affect the diseases transmitted by the tick.

• Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling any tick or instruments that touched a tick. Clean and disinfect any instruments that were used.

Medical Treatment

The treatment of a given tick exposure will depend on the length of attachment, the type of tick, the diseases that are seen in the community, and your symptoms.

• Local cleansing and antibiotic cream may be applied.

• For itching, the doctor may recommend preparations containing diphenhydramine ( Benadryl). You can apply these directly to the skin for itching, or you may take tablets by mouth.

• Blood tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease may be done if there are significant symptoms. These tests are generally not recommended to screen people who do not have symptoms.

• Oral antibiotics may be prescribed for some diseases. With more significant symptoms, you may need antibiotics given through an IV and may need to be hospitalized.

• Other treatments may involve more detailed blood tests, fluids and medications given by IV, and admission to the hospital.