What to apply to a child for ticks? - briefly
Apply a pediatric‑approved 1 % permethrin cream or lotion to the bite site and surrounding skin to kill attached ticks, and use a DEET‑based repellent (up to 30 %) for ongoing protection. Ensure the product is labeled for children and follow the dosage instructions precisely.
What to apply to a child for ticks? - in detail
When a child is found with a tick, immediate removal and appropriate topical or systemic treatment reduce the risk of disease transmission. Follow these steps:
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Tick removal – Use fine‑point tweezers or a tick‑removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull upward with steady pressure, avoiding crushing the body. Clean the bite area with soap and water or an alcohol wipe after extraction.
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Topical acaricides – Apply an over‑the‑counter product containing permethrin (1 %) to the skin surrounding the bite site. Permethrin is approved for children over two months of age. Do not apply directly to the tick; treat the surrounding area to kill any remaining larvae.
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Prescription options – For children older than 12 kg, a single dose of oral doxycycline (4 mg/kg) can be prescribed if early signs of Lyme disease appear. Ivermectin (200 µg/kg) is an alternative for other tick‑borne infections, administered under medical supervision.
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Symptomatic care – Use a mild hydrocortisone cream (1 %) to reduce local inflammation if redness persists. Antihistamines (cetirizine, 5 mg) may alleviate itching. Monitor the site for expanding rash or flu‑like symptoms for up to 30 days.
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Prevention – Apply a child‑safe repellent containing 20–30 % DEET or 10 % picaridin to exposed skin before outdoor activities. Dress the child in long sleeves, long pants, and tuck pants into socks. Perform a full‑body tick check after each outing.
Prompt removal, appropriate topical treatment, and, when indicated, a short course of oral medication constitute the standard approach for managing ticks on a pediatric patient.