What should be given to children after a tick bite? - briefly
Give a weight‑based dose of «doxycycline» within 72 hours of tick removal. Monitor for fever, rash, or joint pain and seek medical evaluation if any symptoms appear.
What should be given to children after a tick bite? - in detail
After a tick is detached, the bite site should be cleaned with antiseptic solution and washed with soap and water. The tick must be removed using fine‑point tweezers, grasping the mouthparts as close to the skin as possible, and pulling straight upward without crushing the body.
Risk assessment depends on the duration of attachment. If the tick has been attached for less than 24 hours, the probability of transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi is low; attachment beyond 48 hours markedly increases that risk. Therefore, the exact time the tick was on the skin should be recorded whenever possible.
When the exposure period exceeds 36 hours and the tick is identified as an Ixodes species, a single dose of doxycycline is recommended for children weighing at least 15 kg (≈33 lb). The dosage is 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, not exceeding 200 mg. For children under the weight threshold or for those with contraindications to doxycycline, amoxicillin‑clavulanate (50 mg/kg per day divided into two doses) may be used for a 10‑day course. Alternative agents such as cefuroxime axetil (30 mg/kg per day in two doses) are acceptable when allergy to penicillins exists.
Symptomatic relief includes oral antihistamines for itching and non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs for discomfort. Topical corticosteroid creams may be applied to reduce local inflammation, provided no open wounds are present.
Monitoring continues for at least four weeks. Parents should observe for erythema migrans, fever, headache, fatigue, or joint pain. Any appearance of a expanding rash or systemic symptoms warrants immediate medical evaluation, as early treatment prevents complications. Documentation of the tick’s appearance and geographic origin assists clinicians in selecting appropriate antimicrobial therapy.