How to remove a tick? A tick bite does not always require medical intervention, since in most cases the arachnid can be pulled out by yourself. All you need to do is follow a few basic rules to know how to properly remove the tick and protect yourself from dangerous viral infections: Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and anaplasmosis. Check how to safely remove a tick and what to do after a bite by this arachnid.
How to properly remove a tick?The basic rule is: the sooner the tick is removed from our body, the less likely it is to contract tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease.
Currently, pharmacies offer various items that make it easier for us to remove ticks from the skin, e.g. pens (about PLN 27), suction cups (about PLN 150) and even a lasso (about PLN 21) and cards for removing ticks. If we are not able to remove the tick ourselves, let's go to the emergency room.
How to remove a tick step by step
Specialists from the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate advise on how to remove a tick:
- grip the tick firmly with tweezers as close to the skin as possible
- take it out with a smooth and firm movement along the puncture axis (make sure the parasite is completely removed with the head part!)
- after removing the tick, disinfect the skin and wash your hands in water with antibacterial soap
- After removing the tick, observe the parasitizing site (s) on the skin for 30 days
- in the case of a skin lesion, the so-called "migrating erythema", other skin lesions or fever>38 deg. C contact your doctor immediately
In case of any doubts, contact your doctor immediately!
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How do I remove a tick head if it breaks off?
If a tick head or a larger fragment of the tick remains in the body, try to remove it with tweezers (same as a tick). It can also be removed with a sterile needle, similar to removing a splinter. If, however, despite attempts, it is not possible to remove it, see a doctor.
If only small residues are visible after removing the tick, it is enough to wash the skin with soap and disinfect the wound. You don't need to see a doctor. The only threat is the larger part of the tick remaining in the body (head or larger fragment),as it may potentially increase your risk of infection.
What are the ways to protect against ticks?
What not to do when removing a tick?
- never catch a tick by its swollen abdomen as there is a risk of squeezing infected fluid into your body
- never twist the tick as its head will stay in your body
- do not try to strangle the tick with petroleum jelly, butter, nail polish, gasoline or alcohol. This way you will only provoke the tick vomiting and increase the risk of infection
- never remove a tick with your bare hands, nail tongs, etc. - then you only tear off the abdomen, and the head and body of the tick remain in the skin, which may have dangerous he alth consequences
What not to do when removing a tick?
Treatment after tick removal
After removing the tick, we should observe the bitten part of the skin for a month. After this time, the following may occur:
- so-called wandering (creeping) erythema, which usually appears 3-30 days after a tick bite. Creeping erythema is usually the first symptom of one of the tick-borne diseases - Lyme disease. Initially, the erythema appears as a red spot that grows rapidly. However, you should know that in more than half of the cases the skin reaction does not appear
The risk of developing Lyme disease is low if the tick is removed within 24-36 hours.
- fever and flu-like symptoms (severe headache, muscle and joint pain, cough), which may be a symptom of anaplasmosis (HGA) - less commonly tick-borne encephalitis
You should see a doctor as soon as possible after you develop these symptoms.
- Ticks - how to defend against them
- Tansy for ticks and other worms. Properties and application of tansy
- Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis
Peppermint oil for tick removal
Some people argue that one of the methods of removing ticks is the use of peppermint oil. One drop poured on the parasite is enough for it to "evacuate" after several seconds from the place where it bit. However, experts point out that this method may do more harm than good.
Ticks do not tolerate peppermint oil - the substance makes them react quickly. In a panic, a tick that tries to get out of where it has bitten can leave more of its saliva. And it is there that pathogenic bacteria are found that makethat these parasites are so dangerous to us.
- Do not tease the tick in any way that could make it saliva more and increase the chances of it infecting us, say Dr. Neety Connally of Connecticut State University.
On the Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness UK website, we read that the use of solutions such as alcohol, shaving foam, oil, butter, paraffin or petroleum jelly to suffocate a tick may trigger an emetic reaction with saliva and guts when it becomes he tried to detach himself from the host's body and escape the irritating substance. It is safest to remove the tick mechanically.