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What are the symptoms of diseases caused by tick bites?
Most ticks don't carry diseases. But if they do carry a disease, it can be passed on when they bite.
Many of the diseases ticks pass to humans can cause flu-like symptoms, including:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Muscle aches (myalgia).
- A general feeling of illness (malaise).
- Nausea and vomiting.
A doctor can evaluate the cause of your flu-like symptoms and recommend treatment.
How can you care for your child's tick bite?
- Put ice or a cold pack on the bite for 10 to 20 minutes once an hour. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
- Try an over-the-counter medicine to relieve itching, redness, swelling, and pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- Ask your doctor if you can give your child an over-the-counter antihistamine.
- Use a spray of local anesthetic that contains benzocaine, such as Solarcaine. It may help relieve pain. If your child's skin reacts to the spray, stop using it.
- Put calamine lotion on the skin. It may help relieve itching.
To avoid tick bites
- Help your child avoid ticks:
- Learn where ticks are found in your community, and stay away from those areas if possible.
- Cover as much of your child's body as possible when your child plays in grassy or wooded areas.
- Use insect repellents, such as products containing DEET. If your child is older than 2 months, you can spray these repellents on your child's skin.
- Take steps to control ticks on your property if you live in an area where Lyme disease occurs. Clear leaves, brush, tall grasses, woodpiles, and stone fences from around your house and the edges of your yard or garden. This may help get rid of ticks.
- When your child comes in from outdoors, check your child's body for ticks, including the groin, head, and underarms. The ticks may be about the size of a sesame seed.
- If you find a tick, remove it quickly. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to its mouth (the part in your skin) as possible. Slowly pull the tick straight out—do not twist or yank—until its mouth releases from the skin. If part of the tick stays in the skin, leave it alone. It will likely come out on its own in a few days.
- Ticks can come into your house on clothing, outdoor gear, and pets. These ticks can fall off and attach to you and your child.
- Check your child's clothing and outdoor gear. Remove any ticks you find. Then put your child's clothing in a clothes dryer on high heat for about 4 minutes to kill any ticks that might remain.
- Check your pets for ticks after they have been outdoors.
Tick bites in children: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- Your child has symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. These may include:
- Sudden raised, red areas (hives) all over the body.
- Swelling of the throat, mouth, lips, or tongue.
- Trouble breathing.
- Passing out (losing consciousness). Or your child may feel very lightheaded or suddenly feel weak, confused, or restless.
- Severe belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the bite.
- Red streaks leading from the bite.
- Pus draining from the bite.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your child has belly pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- Your child gets a new rash.
- Your child has joint pain.
- Your child is very tired.
- Your child has flu-like symptoms.
- Your child has symptoms for more than 1 week.
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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.