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Insect bites and stings - Management
How do I manage a tick bite?
- Remove the tick quickly with fine-tipped tweezers, and protect bare hands with a tissue or gloves to avoid contact with tick fluids.
- Grab the tick close to the skin.
- Gently pull straight up until all parts of the tick are removed.
- After removing the tick, wash your hands with soap and water.
- Clean the tick bite with an antiseptic such as iodine scrub, or soap and water.
- Do not twist or jerk the tick as it is being removed, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.
- Do not try to make the tick back out by using petroleum jelly, alcohol, or a lit match, as these are ineffective.
- Do not routinely offer antimicrobial prophylaxis or carry out serological tests for Lyme disease, but advise that if a rash appears at the site of the bite (erythema migrans) or a fever develops, the person should promptly seek medical advice.
Basis for recommendation
- These recommendations are based on advice from the Centre for Disease Control in the USA and from the Health Protection Agency [CDC, 2005; HPA, 2006c].
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