Ticks & Tick-Borne Diseases

Tick Bite: What to Do

Tick bites can make people sick. Below are some steps that you can take after a tick bite to reduce your chances of getting sick, and how to get treatment promptly if you do get sick. 

Remove the tick as soon as possible.

  1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can. 
  2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick.
  3. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. 
  4. Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet. If you would like to bring the tick to your healthcare provider for identification, put it in rubbing alcohol or place it in a sealed bag/container.

Watch for symptoms for 30 days

Call your healthcare provider if you get any of the following: 

  • rash
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle Pain
  • Joint swelling and pain

Contact your healthcare provider if you find an attached tick or if you are experiencing symptoms. Treatment for tick-borne diseases should be based on symptoms, history of exposure to ticks, and, in some cases, blood test results.

Common questions after a tick bite

Can I get sick from a tick that is crawling on me but has not yet attached? 

Ticks must bite you to spread their germs. Once they attach to you, they will feed on your blood and can spread germs. A tick that is crawling on you but not attached could not have spread germs. However, if you have found a tick crawling on you, it’s a sign there may be others: do a careful tick check. 

How long does a tick need to be attached before it can spread infection? 

Depending on the type of tick and germ, a tick needs to be attached to you for different amounts of time (minutes to days) to infect you with that germ. 

Your risk for Lyme disease is very low if a tick has been attached for fewer than 24 hours. Check for ticks daily and remove them as soon as possible.

For more information: www.cdc.gov/ticks/

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