Tick bites

StorkLine is a free 24-hour hotline for expecting moms and parents of young children. It is answered by Western Baptist nurses at (270) 575-BABY. Here is a common question and the nurses’ response.

TICK BITES

Question: My child has a tick bite. How do I properly remove it? How do I know if it transmitted a disease?

Answer: Wood or dog ticks are most common. They are brown or black, some with a white spot. They can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The tick has a greater chance of transmitting disease the longer it is attached.

To remove, saturate a cotton ball or small piece of paper towel with dishwashing liquid. Apply it for several minutes where the tick is attached. It may take several minutes, but most ticks will detach. If not, hold the tick with tweezers or your fingers, but do not squeeze. Be gentle but firm, and pull it straight out. Wash the area with an antibacterial soap and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment one time.

If it is not all removed, the spot may look infected as the body pushes it out like it would a splinter. Mark your calendar with the date. See a doctor if a bull’s eye rash and flu-like symptoms or fever develop within 14 days.

Deer ticks are tiny brown ticks that are almost impossible to pick off. They transmit Lyme Disease. Remove these by scraping off with a fingernail, credit card or anything with a smooth edge. Mark your calendar, and see a doctor if a rash or flu-like symptoms develop within 30 days.