What should be done and where to go if bitten by a tick? - briefly
Immediately grasp the tick with fine tweezers as close to the skin as possible, pull straight out, disinfect the area, and then contact a healthcare professional or go to an urgent‑care clinic for assessment and possible prophylactic treatment.
What should be done and where to go if bitten by a tick? - in detail
If a tick attaches to the skin, remove it promptly. Grasp the head or mouthparts with fine‑point tweezers, pull straight upward with steady pressure, and avoid squeezing the body. After extraction, clean the bite site with antiseptic or soap and water. Preserve the tick in a sealed container for identification; label with date, location, and duration of attachment if known.
Monitor the wound for several weeks. Look for a red expanding rash (erythema migrans), fever, headache, muscle aches, or joint pain. Any of these symptoms may indicate a tick‑borne infection and require medical evaluation.
Seek professional care in the following circumstances:
- Uncertain removal or incomplete extraction leaving mouthparts in the skin.
- Development of a rash larger than 5 cm, especially if it enlarges over days.
- Systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, or joint swelling.
- Bite by a tick known to carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or other regional pathogens.
When visiting a healthcare provider, bring the preserved tick if possible. The clinician may order laboratory tests, such as serology for Borrelia burgdorferi or PCR for other agents, and may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., a single dose of doxycycline) if the tick species, attachment time, and local infection rates meet established criteria.
If immediate medical attention is unavailable, contact a local public health department or an infectious‑disease hotline for guidance on next steps, including where to obtain testing and treatment. Keep a record of the bite date, tick identification, and any symptoms for future reference.