What should you do if a tick is on the scalp? - briefly
Use fine‑point tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure; then disinfect the bite area and wash your hands. Monitor the site for several weeks and consult a healthcare professional if redness, fever, or a rash appears.
What should you do if a tick is on the scalp? - in detail
If a tick attaches to the hair or skin of the head, remove it promptly to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Follow these precise actions:
- Gather tools: Use fine‑pointed tweezers or a specialized tick‑removal device, disposable gloves, antiseptic solution, and a clean container with a lid.
- Expose the area: Part the hair with a comb or your fingers to see the tick clearly. Keep the skin taut to avoid squeezing the body.
- Grasp the parasite: Position the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, gripping the head or mouthparts without crushing the abdomen.
- Apply steady traction: Pull upward with even pressure until the tick separates. Do not twist, jerk, or rock the instrument, as this may leave mouthparts embedded.
- Disinfect the bite site: After removal, clean the area with alcohol or iodine. Apply a mild antiseptic ointment if desired.
- Secure the specimen: Place the tick in a sealed bag with a label containing the date and location of the encounter. This enables later testing if symptoms develop.
- Monitor for symptoms: Over the next 30 days, watch for fever, rash, headache, fatigue, or joint pain. Seek medical evaluation promptly if any of these appear, providing the tick sample to the clinician.
If removal proves difficult because the tick is deeply embedded or the head cannot be accessed, do not attempt forceful extraction. Instead, seek professional medical assistance to avoid damaging the skin or leaving fragments behind.
After the incident, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Consider using a protective hat or applying repellents containing DEET or permethrin when entering tick‑infested environments to prevent future attachments.