What should be done with a subcutaneous tick? - briefly
Remove the tick promptly using fine‑tipped tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight upward. Clean the bite site with antiseptic and watch for any signs of infection.
What should be done with a subcutaneous tick? - in detail
When a tick has penetrated beneath the skin surface, immediate and precise action reduces the risk of infection and disease transmission. First, locate the tick’s head and mouthparts; they may appear as a tiny black or brown protrusion. If visibility is limited, gently stretch the skin around the area to expose the attachment point.
- Disinfect the surrounding skin with an alcohol swab or iodine solution.
- Use fine‑point, non‑toothed tweezers; grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, holding the mouthparts without crushing the body.
- Apply steady, upward pressure to extract the tick in a straight line. Avoid twisting or jerking motions that could leave fragments embedded.
- After removal, clean the bite site again with antiseptic. Inspect the tick for remaining parts; any retained mouthparts require medical extraction.
- Store the tick in a sealed container with a damp cotton ball if identification or testing for pathogens is needed; label with date and location.
- Monitor the bite area for redness, swelling, or a bull’s‑eye rash over the next 2–4 weeks. Record any fever, headache, fatigue, or joint pain, which may indicate a tick‑borne illness.
- Seek professional medical care if the tick cannot be removed completely, if the bite site becomes infected, or if systemic symptoms appear. A clinician may prescribe antibiotics or order laboratory tests for diseases such as Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or ehrlichiosis.
Prompt, sterile removal followed by vigilant observation constitutes the recommended protocol for subcutaneous tick encounters.