injuries poisoning
How To Remove a Tick
Aftercare for Removing a Tick
The main concern is transmission of various tick-borne illnesses. The bite itself is superficial and rarely problematic. Patients should return if any local pain, swelling, or erythema develops or if they develop systemic symptoms (eg, fever, headache, joint pains, malaise) within 4 weeks of the bite; most tick-borne illnesses except for Lyme Disease typically manifest earlier. The tick may be saved for laboratory analysis to check for tick-borne disease in the geographic area where the patient acquired the tick. Prophylacticdoxycycline(a single dose 200 mg orally for adults or 4 mg/kg for children under 8 years old) can prevent Lyme disease but should be given only when all of the following criteria are met: The patient is from an area where the incidence of Lyme disease is high. A partially engorged deer tick in the nymphal stage is discovered on the body. The tick is suspected to have been attached for at least 36 hours. Some experts recommend a longer course ofdoxycycline(100 mg 2 times a day for 10 to 20 days) to ensure eradication. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment of tick bites is otherwise not recommended. 