Remove the tick (see tick removal). Be careful not to leave the tick's head stuck in the skin.

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Time the tick bite occurred
• Part of the body affected

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

The symptoms will be treated as appropriate. Long-term treatment may be needed if complications develop. Preventive antibiotics are often given to people who live in areas where Lyme disease is common.

Most tick bites are harmless. The outcome will depend on what type of infection the tick may have been carrying and how soon appropriate treatment was begun.

Images

Lyme disease - Borrelia burgdorferi organism

Deer and dog tick

Ticks

Tick, deer - adult female

Lyme disease, erythema chronicum migrans

Tick, deer engorged on the skin

Lyme disease organism, Borrelia burgdorferi

Deer ticks

Tick imbedded in the skin

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Tick bite Symptoms

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Tick bite Prevention

Review Date: 10/04/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)