Label the bag with the date the tick was removed. Once removed and bagged, ticks can be sent to a local health department or tick testing lab.
That said, many people never get, or see, a rash—and not all Lyme rashes look the same. You need to also watch for other early symptoms of Lyme disease such as fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and fever, and to talk with your physician about taking prophylactic antibiotics. Taking good prevention measures against ticks is the first line of defense against Lyme and co-infections. This means being Tick AWARE : A voiding high traffic areas, like tall grasses and leaf piles; W earing proper clothing, like long pants, sleeves and socks; A pplying EPA-approved tick repellent, properly; R emoving clothing when back indoors and putting in hot dryer; and E xamining yourself for ticks daily.
Despite our best efforts, though, we still can get tick bites. Opinions expressed by contributors are their own. Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. Jennifer is a patient advocate who has dealt with chronic illness, including Lyme and other tick-borne infections. Her memoir about her medical journey is forthcoming. Contact her via email below. Email: lymewarriorjennifercrystal gmail. You are not in this journey alone! Patients can play an important role in advancing the understanding of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses and aid in the discovery of new or improved treatments by participating in a clinical trial.
Connect with a doctor who understands Lyme disease and how to treat it. Follow-up If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor: Tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, When the bite occurred, and Where you most likely acquired the tick.
Although some commercial groups offer testing, in general this is not recommended because: Laboratories that conduct tick testing are not required to have the high standards of quality control used by clinical diagnostic laboratories. Results of tick testing should not be used for treatment decisions. Positive results showing that the tick contains a disease-causing organism do not necessarily mean that you have been infected.
Negative results can lead to false assurance. You may have been unknowingly bitten by a different tick that was infected. If you have been infected, you will probably develop symptoms before results of the tick test are available.
If you do become ill, you should not wait for tick testing results before beginning appropriate treatment. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
These ticks can fall off and attach to you. Check your clothing and outdoor gear. Remove any ticks you find. Then put your clothing in a clothes dryer on high heat for 1 hour to kill any ticks that might remain. Check your pets for ticks after they have been outdoors. Check your children daily for ticks, especially during the summer months. How to remove a tick Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick.
Grab the tick as close to its mouth the part that is stuck in your skin as you can. The body of the tick will be above your skin. Do not grab the tick around its swollen belly. You could push infected fluid from the tick into your body if you squeeze it. Gently pull the tick straight out until its mouth lets go of your skin. Do not twist the tick. This may break off the tick's body and leave the head in your skin.
If part of the tick stays in the skin, leave it alone. It will likely come out on its own in a few days. What to avoid Do not try to: Smother a tick that is stuck to your skin with petroleum jelly, nail polish, gasoline, or rubbing alcohol. Burn the tick while it is stuck to your skin. Related Information Tick Bites. Tick removal. American Family Physician, 66 4 : — Tick-borne diseases.
In PS Auerbach, ed. Louis: Mosby.
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