Ticks are small creatures, similar to spiders, that feed on the blood of a living host, which can include humans. Inhabiting fields, woodlands and yards, ticks are sometimes found on children that play in these outdoor areas. Once on the child, the tick burrows its head into the skin to feed. According the American Academy of Family Physicians, tick-borne diseases are the most common diseases transmitted by animals in the United States. Because ticks can spread diseases, including Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, if you find a tick on your child, remove it as quickly as possible.
Step 1
Grasp the tick with fine-point tweezers as close as possible to the point where the tick's head enters your child's skin. Avoid grabbing the body of the tick, as this can crush the tick and leave the head in the skin.
Step 2
Pull the tick until the head releases from the skin. Use slow and steady force in a straight line from the tick. Avoid rocking or twisting the tick to prevent the head from coming off the tick's body.
Step 3
Use the tweezers to remove the head, similar to removing a splinter, if the head comes off the tick and remains in your child's skin.
Step 4
Place all of the removed tick in a sealed plastic bag for possible testing for potential pathogens in the future.
Step 5
Wash your child's skin at the bite site thoroughly with soap and water once the tick is removed. Treat the area with a mild disinfectant.
Step 6
Observe your child over the next month for signs or symptoms of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or other illnesses transmitted by ticks. These include headache, body pains or stiffness, chills or fever, a rash, or infection at the bite location. If your child exhibits any of these signs or symptoms, see your pediatrician immediately, and bring the tick with you to be tested.
Tips and Warnings
- Check your child for ticks after they have been playing outside. Examine the hair, scalp and skin, with particular attention to skin folds, such as under arms and behind the ears.
- Do not use other treatments, such as a hot match, petroleum jelly, acetone, nail polish or insecticides to remove a tick.
Things You'll Need
- Tweezers
- Plastic zip-top bag
- Soap
- Disinfectant
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