If you plan on spending any time outdoors in the summer in Tennesse, it’s important to know how to handle tick bites and stay safe from tick-borne illnesses. Here’s a simple guide to help you!
How to Remove a Tick
Use Fine-Tipped Tweezers: Grab the tick as close to your skin as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. This helps avoid breaking the tick and leaving parts in your skin.
Pull Up Slowly and Steadily: Gently pull the tick straight up with steady pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick as it can break off in your skin.
Don’t Use Your Fingers or Other Methods: Avoid using your fingers, gasoline (yes, people do this), petroleum jelly, nail polish, or lit matches. These can make the tick spit into your skin, which can increase the risk of infection.
Store the Tick Properly: Put the tick in a sealed container or zip-lock bag with a moist cotton ball and label it with the date. This helps if you need to show it to me later.
Clean the Area: After removing the tick, wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water.
Check for Tick Parts: If parts of the tick are still in your skin and you can’t remove them easily, let them be. They should come out on their own.
Watch for Symptoms: Keep an eye on the bite area. Look out for a red, expanding rash with a clear center (like a target), called erythema migrans, which can be a sign of Lyme disease.
When to Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Lofley
If You Feel Sick: If you get a rash, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, or other flu-like symptoms within a few weeks of a tick bite, come see me. These could be signs of illnesses like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or anaplasmosis.
If You See Erythema Migrans: If you see a red rash with a clear center, text me right away. This rash can be a sign of Lyme disease.
High-Risk Tick Bite: In Tennessee, the risk of Lyme disease is lower than in the Northeast and Midwest. However, if the tick is a black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and was attached for 36 hours or more, then you may need a preventive antibiotic. Black-legged ticks are small with reddish-brown bodies and black legs. This is a helpful website to identify ticks.
If Symptoms Don’t Go Away: If the bite area gets worse or you have signs of infection like swelling or redness, see a doctor.
If You’re Not Sure About Tick Removal: If you think some parts of the tick are still in your skin, I can evaluate for removal.
By following these steps, you can reduce your risk of tick-borne illnesses and get help when you need it. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly. You can also call our office at 615-266-6465 to make an appointment or easily schedule one online. We’re here to help!
