What should you apply if a tick bites? - briefly
After removal, clean the bite with soap and water or an antiseptic, then apply a topical antibiotic such as bacitracin or povidone‑iodine. Monitor for rash or fever and seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
What should you apply if a tick bites? - in detail
Remove the arthropod promptly with fine‑point tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady pressure. After extraction, cleanse the puncture site with an alcohol swab or povidone‑iodine solution. Apply a thin layer of a broad‑spectrum topical antibiotic (e.g., bacitracin or mupirocin) to reduce bacterial colonisation. Cover the area with a sterile adhesive strip if needed.
In regions where Lyme disease is prevalent, administer a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg for adults, 4 mg/kg for children ≥8 years) within 72 hours of the bite, provided the tick was attached for ≥36 hours and the patient has no contraindications. For patients unable to take doxycycline, consider alternative agents such as amoxicillin or cefuroxime, following local guidelines.
Additional measures:
- Avoid petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat to force the tick out; these methods increase the risk of pathogen transmission.
- Inspect the bite site daily for erythema migrans or other rash patterns; seek medical evaluation if a expanding lesion appears.
- Record the date of removal and the estimated duration of attachment; this information assists clinicians in risk assessment.
- Verify tetanus immunisation status; administer a booster if the last dose was over ten years ago or if the wound is contaminated.
Monitoring for systemic symptoms—fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches—should continue for several weeks. Prompt medical treatment is indicated if any signs of infection develop.