Having recently received treatment for Lyme Disease myself I wanted to highlight some of the signs, symptoms and actions on finding a tick. So below we take a look at Tick Bites and Lyme Disease.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.
Ticks are tiny, blood-sucking arachnids (related to spiders) that act as parasites, feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. They are found in woodland, tall grass, and urban gardens, waiting on vegetation to attach to passing hosts. From experience you can sometimes see them climbing up your clothing, but they can also be so tiny they are difficult to see.
Symptoms
Ticks wont always be infected with Lyme Disease but if they are, and they pass it on, you may notice some of the following symptoms.
A circular or oval shape rash around a tick bite, sometimes described as a bullseye rash, can be an early symptom of Lyme disease in some people.
The rash can appear within 3 days, or may take up to 3 months to show after being bitten by an infected tick.
The rash can have a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread. It’s not usually hot or itchy.
The rash may be flat, or slightly raised, and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin. It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise.
Some people also get flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery
- headache
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness and loss of energy
- Swelling
How to find and remove ticks
Ticks can often be spotted by thoroughly checking over your entire body. Pay extra attention to warm, moist, and hidden areas of the body, they often crawl up from legs and settling in skin folds. Common, high-risk spots include the hairline/neck, behind the ears, armpits, groin, buttocks, behind the knees, and the belly button. They can, however, attach anywhere.
To safely remove a tick you can use a tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. These are readily available online or in pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
To remove a tick with a tick-removal tool
- Wash your hands and, if available, put on disposable gloves.
- Choose an appropriate size tick tool.
- Slide the tool underneath the tick gently, as close to the skin as possible, until it is held securely.
- Lift the tool slightly whilst rotating in in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
- After removal, clean the area thoroughly with antiseptic or soap and wash your hands again.
To remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers
- Wash your hands and, if available, put on disposable gloves.
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Avoid blunt-nosed eyebrow tweezers if possible, as they are more likely to crush the tick’s body.
- Position the tweezers as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Aim to hold the tick by its head, not its body.
- Pull straight up, away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Do not twist the tweezers.
- After removal, clean the area thoroughly with antiseptic or soap and wash your hands again
After removing the tick , do not crush it with your fingers. Safely dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet, putting it in a sealed bag/container, or wrapping it tightly in tape before putting it in the bin. Alternatively, you can send it to the UK Health Security Agency Tick Surveillance Scheme to help with mapping tick distribution and exposure risk.
What not to do
- DO NOT use methods that irritate the tick: Do not use lit matches, cigarette ends, or oils to force it out.
- DO NOT squeeze the tick: Using your fingers or blunt tweezers to crush or twist the body can leave the mouthparts in the skin or inject pathogens.
- DO NOT dig at the skin: If the tick’s mouthparts break off and stay in the skin, do not dig for them. This increases the risk of infection. Seek help from your GP.
- DO NOT burn or freeze it: These “old wives tales” are ineffective and dangerous.
- DO NOT ignore it: Remove it as soon as possible.
How to avoid tick bites
To reduce the chance of being bitten by a tick:
- cover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks
- use insect repellent on your clothes and skin – products containing DEET are best
- stay on clear paths whenever possible
- wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to see and brush off
Treatment for Lyme Disease
If you have any of the above symptoms, seek medical attention immediately from your GP. Ensure that you tell them you have had a tick bite or may have come in to contact with a tick. If the GP thinks you might have Lyme disease, they’ll prescribe a course of antibiotics.
Treatment is more effective if it’s started as soon as possible.
Most people with Lyme disease get better after antibiotic treatment. This can take months for some people, but the symptoms should improve over time.
For more information on Tick Bites and Lyme Disease, you can take a look at the links below:
- NHS- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
- Lyme Disease Action- https://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/
- Lyme Disease UK- https://lymediseaseuk.com/
- Tick Bites and Lyme Disease is also covered on our Emergency First Aid at Work (+F) course