What should you do if a tick bites an adult at home? - briefly
Use fine‑point tweezers to grasp the tick near the skin and pull upward with steady pressure, then clean the area with antiseptic, discard the tick, and monitor for rash or fever, seeking medical attention if symptoms develop.
What should you do if a tick bites an adult at home? - in detail
When a tick attaches to an adult inside the house, act promptly.
- Use fine‑point tweezers or a tick‑removal tool.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, avoiding compression of the body.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure; do not twist or jerk.
- After removal, clean the bite site with soap and water or an alcohol swab.
- Disinfect tweezers and discard the tick in sealed waste or flush it.
After extraction, apply a mild antiseptic to the wound and cover with a clean bandage if needed. Record the date of the bite and, if possible, preserve the tick in a sealed container for later identification.
Observe the bite area for the next 2‑4 weeks. Watch for:
- Expanding redness or a bullseye rash.
- Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, or joint pain.
- Unusual fatigue or nausea.
Seek professional medical care if any of these signs appear, if the bite is in a sensitive area (e.g., face, genitals), or if the adult has a compromised immune system, chronic illness, or is pregnant. A clinician may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or conduct laboratory tests to rule out tick‑borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or anaplasmosis.