Protect Your Family During Tick Season

Ticks can transmit bacteria and viruses that carry diseases such as Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. The good news is that the risk of acquiring Lyme disease after a deer tick bite is low, even in a high-risk area. Our expert, Dr. Danielle Chierian, a pediatrician at Lurie Children's Primary Care Town & Country Pediatrics, explains how to stay safe this tick season.

Tick Prevention

There are no vaccines to prevent tick-borne diseases, so tick prevention is key. High grass and wooded areas are commonly infested with ticks, so it is especially important to cover up with long pants, sleeves and socks when in those areas. Use repellent on skin not covered by clothing, and ensure it is approved as safe and effective for children. 

How to Check for Ticks

Examine your child’s body after being outdoors by checking areas such as under arms, groin, behind the knees, scalp and hair. Use a mirror for hard-to-see areas. Don’t forget to check clothing, gear and pets before bringing them indoors.  

How to Remove Ticks

Not every tick bite will result in Lyme disease. A wood tick (dog tick) is the size of an apple seed, while a deer tick is the size of a poppy seed. After feeding on blood, ticks can swell to triple their size and are easier to see.   

If you or your child are worried you may have been bitten, proper removal is necessary. Using a pair of clean, fine-tipped tweezers, pinch the part of the tick that’s closest to your skin (usually the head) in a steady motion.

After removal, wash the bite with soap and warm water. Never use a match, petroleum jelly or nail polish. If the wood tick's head breaks off in the skin, remove any large parts. Use clean tweezers to uncover the head and scrape it off. 

If a deer tick is swollen, try to remove it with clean tweezers. If it is tiny, it needs to be scraped off. Use the edge of a credit card. After the tick has been removed, clean the bite with warm soap and water and swab with rubbing alcohol if available. Apply a topical antibiotic. 

Aftercare and Antibiotics

The use of antibiotics after a deer tick bite to prevent Lyme disease depends on the risk. The risk is considered low if the deer tick was attached for a brief amount of time and therefore an antibiotic is likely not needed. 

The risk is considered high if the deer tick was attached for longer than 36 hours. It is also considered high risk if the tick is swollen, not flat. In those situations, an antibiotic may be needed. Please schedule a visit via telemedicine or in person to discuss with your pediatrician. 

Call Your Pediatrician If

• You tried and could not remove the tick  
• The tick has been attached for more than 24 hours
• A fever or rash occurs in the next four weeks  
• The bite starts to look infected  
• You think your child needs to be seen

Learn more about Lurie Children’s Primary Care at Town & Country Pediatrics here.
 

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