What should you do if you discover a tick bite? - briefly
Remove the tick promptly using fine‑point tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight upward without squeezing. Clean the site with antiseptic, watch for rash or fever, and seek medical advice for possible prophylactic treatment.
What should you do if you discover a tick bite? - in detail
If you notice a tick attached to your skin, act promptly.
- Use fine‑tipped tweezers. Pinch the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or crush the body.
- After removal, clean the bite site and your hands with soap and water or an alcohol‑based sanitizer.
- Record the encounter: date, geographic location, estimated size of the tick, and whether it was engorged. This information aids later medical assessment.
- Observe the area and your overall health for up to 30 days. Watch for a red expanding rash, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, or joint swelling. Any of these signs warrants immediate medical evaluation.
- Contact a healthcare provider if you cannot extract the tick completely, notice residual mouthparts, develop symptoms, or if you live in a region where Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or other tick‑borne illnesses are common. The clinician may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or order laboratory tests.
- Reduce future risk by applying EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET or picaridin, wearing long sleeves and pants, tucking clothing into socks, and performing thorough body checks after outdoor activities, especially in wooded or grassy areas.