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Summer comes with special treats like picnics, barbeques, and afternoons at the park. However, it also brings uninvited guests like ticks. To avoid the potential for a tick-related disease, it's important to know how to safely remove these health-threatening insects.
Whether your child has an immediate health concern like a tick bite, they need a well-child visit, or they’re dealing with another medical or behavioral issue, Angel Kids Pediatrics can meet all your needs at our 10 office locations in Jacksonville, Amelia Island, and Saint Johns, Florida.
As the largest private pediatric practice in the northeastern part of the state, our 30+ providers and large staff provide state-of-the-art convenient care for children from birth through the age of 18.
Understanding ticks
Ticks are arachnids with flat oval bodies and eight legs that feed on the blood of mammals. There are hundreds of tick types, and they can range in size — some are as small as a poppy seed, while others are as large a pencil eraser.
Ticks can carry a number of health-threatening diseases, so finding and removing them from the skin promptly is vitally important. While they can attach to any part of the body, favorite tick locations include the head and area behind the ears, under the arms, the elbows, and the knees.
Tick removal 101
Ticks bite people and animals and then burrow into the skin. This is rarely painful and many people don't notice a tick unless they’re actively looking for it.
Removing a tick as quickly as possible is important for preventing the transmission of disease from any tick-borne microorganisms that cause illness. Steps include the following:
Removal
Using tweezers, grasp the head of the tick (or the entire body if it’s visible) and pull straight up and out without twisting. Pressing down on the skin on each side helps reduce pinching sensations for your child. Never attempt to burn the tick or coat it with petroleum jelly or nail polish.
Sometimes, pieces of the tick may be left behind. Don't try to pull any remainders out with the tweezers; instead, let them come out on their own or soak the area in warm water to encourage the process.
Disinfecting
Use soap and water or rubbing alcohol to clean the entry wound. A small pimple-like bump may occur and last for a few days; this is normal.
Saving and storing
Save the tick in a plastic bag or other container. Call our pediatric team to find out if we have any special instructions or if we want to examine your child. We may also be able to look at the tick to determine its type, or send it to a lab to test for diseases.
Observation
After the tick is removed, observe your child for signs of a reaction or illness. Allergic reactions are rare, but can happen.
Signs of tick-borne illness include a rash and a fever or headache that starts anywhere from two to 14 days after the bite. Increased swelling or redness is another red flag. In the case of Lyme disease, a bull's eye rash may appear three to 30 days after the tick bite.
Tick prevention
Wearing long pants and long sleeves as well as using insect repellant can help protect against tick bites. Regularly checking the skin after spending time outdoors allows for removal as soon as possible.
If you’ve found a tick on your child, it's important to promptly remove it and consult a doctor for further instructions. Angel Kids Pediatrics is here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at your nearest office in Jacksonville, Amelia Island or Saint Johns, Florida, today.