A tick bit me...now what?

[Anonymous]

I found a tick on me and freaked out. I removed it with tweezers and cleaned the area. It's red at the bite site. What do I do now? Just wait and see what happens? I'm still a bit freaked out.

[Anonymous]

Save the tick in a bag. Is the head still attached? If so, it is not as likely that you have been bit yet or you did a really good job removing it!

SAVE THE TICK. At this point its very hard to tell if you may have been infected by anything that the tick may carry. Some physicians will send the tick for testing-- others may just treat you with antibiotics given this DC area.

Clean the area well with soap and water. Dont put any lotions over the area. If you do not get in touch with your physician, the tell tale sign for lyme is usually a bulls-eye type rash (you can look it up on google)

I would call your primary care physician office tomorrow and tell them what happened and schedule an appointment from there. Bring the tick with you. If they are not open tomorrow, many have a paging system to contact the on-call physician for the weekend. You can get in touch with them and make a plan from there.

Of course if you start getting really sick, seek care immediately.

[Anonymous]

If the tick was on you less than 48 hours or if it is a dog tick and not a deer tick there is no need to worry. The mere fact that a tick bit you is not a big deal. A deer tick is very, very tiny (think pencil tip). I dog tick is much bigger.

[Cloud]

In May I was bitten by what was apparently a "huge tick" according to my Dr. I brought it with me and she identified it and said that unless it was attached for at least 36 hours, I would not have been infected with Lyme bacteria. She said sending the tick for testing was not necessary and she didn't recommend it because the test gives so many false readings. The area wasn't too itchy but I still have an ugly red bump (over 6 weeks later).

Over a month after my bite, my toddler was bitten by a tick and I took her to the paediatrician, who said we don't need to come in for every tick bite as long as we:
1) ensure the entire tick was removed including the head
2) clean the area with rubbing alcohol
3) watch the area for signs of the bull's eye
4) pay attention to complaints of headache and joint pain

[Anonymous]

Cloud wrote:In May I was bitten by what was apparently a "huge tick" according to my Dr. I brought it with me and she identified it and said that unless it was attached for at least 36 hours, I would not have been infected with Lyme bacteria. She said sending the tick for testing was not necessary and she didn't recommend it because the test gives so many false readings. The area wasn't too itchy but I still have an ugly red bump (over 6 weeks later).

Over a month after my bite, my toddler was bitten by a tick and I took her to the paediatrician, who said we don't need to come in for every tick bite as long as we:
1) ensure the entire tick was removed including the head
2) clean the area with rubbing alcohol
3) watch the area for signs of the bull's eye
4) pay attention to complaints of headache and joint pain

This is good advice. Most ticks don't have Lyme. If you have a red bump, you probably left the teeth in there.

[Anonymous]

Ticks have teeth?!!

[Cloud]

Anonymous wrote:Ticks have teeth?!!

I didn't know they did either! Weird... you can't feel the bite. Which is even more gross. You have no idea how long it's been there.

[Anonymous]

Just one piece of misinformation: not everyone gets a bullseye rash! Some estimate 50% or less and it doesn't always look like a bullseye. I would treat prophylactically with antibiotics - and I am very conservative with medication. I've seen a close friend and family member through chronic Lyme disease, and it was not pretty, in either case.

[Anonymous]

Cloud wrote:In May I was bitten by what was apparently a "huge tick" according to my Dr. I brought it with me and she identified it and said that unless it was attached for at least 36 hours, I would not have been infected with Lyme bacteria. She said sending the tick for testing was not necessary and she didn't recommend it because the test gives so many false readings. The area wasn't too itchy but I still have an ugly red bump (over 6 weeks later).

Over a month after my bite, my toddler was bitten by a tick and I took her to the paediatrician, who said we don't need to come in for every tick bite as long as we:
1) ensure the entire tick was removed including the head
2) clean the area with rubbing alcohol
3) watch the area for signs of the bull's eye
4) pay attention to complaints of headache and joint pain

I'm shocked your ped was so laid back. My Dr. puts anyone with a tick pite on antibiotics as a precaution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Cloud wrote:In May I was bitten by what was apparently a "huge tick" according to my Dr. I brought it with me and she identified it and said that unless it was attached for at least 36 hours, I would not have been infected with Lyme bacteria. She said sending the tick for testing was not necessary and she didn't recommend it because the test gives so many false readings. The area wasn't too itchy but I still have an ugly red bump (over 6 weeks later).

Over a month after my bite, my toddler was bitten by a tick and I took her to the paediatrician, who said we don't need to come in for every tick bite as long as we:
1) ensure the entire tick was removed including the head
2) clean the area with rubbing alcohol
3) watch the area for signs of the bull's eye
4) pay attention to complaints of headache and joint pain

I'm shocked your ped was so laid back. My Dr. puts anyone with a tick pite on antibiotics as a precaution.

Unnecessary and irresponsible - one of many reasons bacterial resistance to antibiotics is growing.

[Anonymous]

I worked at a summer camp. I have had hundreds of tick bites and so did the various people I knew connected with the camp. I know only one who got Lyme's and he was the director and there all summer for 10 yrs. I point this out only because I think it's idiotic to get antibiotics for every tick bite.

[Anonymous]

Cloud wrote:In May I was bitten by what was apparently a "huge tick" according to my Dr. I brought it with me and she identified it and said that unless it was attached for at least 36 hours, I would not have been infected with Lyme bacteria. She said sending the tick for testing was not necessary and she didn't recommend it because the test gives so many false readings. The area wasn't too itchy but I still have an ugly red bump (over 6 weeks later).

Over a month after my bite, my toddler was bitten by a tick and I took her to the paediatrician, who said we don't need to come in for every tick bite as long as we:
1) ensure the entire tick was removed including the head
2) clean the area with rubbing alcohol
3) watch the area for signs of the bull's eye
4) pay attention to complaints of headache and joint pain

The above seems to be common protocol for children. For adults, many doctors will prescribe prophylactic antibiotics if the tick is caught within 48 hours. A single 200 mg dose of doxycycline is administered, I believe. I know several adults who have been treated this way.

[Anonymous]

alot of misinformation here unfortunately. Clearly you all do NOT know much about Lyme disease and OTHER tick diseases. a dog tick carries other diseases that are so debilitating it cannot be explained in this forum. check out the website: THETICKTHATBITME for accurate information and treatment.

[Anonymous]

You all are a bunch of alarmists. I found 6 ticks on me last weekend after picking hickory nuts at the family farm. I removed them and carried on. This has been a regular, weekly occurrence for over 25 years. Don't worry yourselves.

[Anonymous]

2015. "Dog Tick" bites should alarm anyone! Research it!