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Lyme disease - Management
What advice should I give if a person has been bitten by a tick?
- If a tick is still attached to the skin, remove it using the following method:
- Gently grip the tick as close to the point of attachment to the skin as possible (preferably using fine-toothed tweezers or forceps, or a tick removal device).
- Pull steadily upwards, away from the skin, without twisting. Take care not to crush the tick. For a diagram, see www.cdc.org.
- Inexpensive tick removal devices may be available at veterinary surgeries and pet supply shops, and are useful for people who are frequently exposed to ticks. These should be used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions.
- Do not:
- Burn the tick off (for example using lighted cigarette ends or match heads).
- Apply petroleum jelly, alcohol, nail varnish remover, or other substances (as this may stimulate the tick to regurgitate potentially infected material into the skin, which may increase the risk of transmission of infection).
- After removal:
- Clean the skin with soap and water, or skin disinfectant, and wash hands.
- Reassure the person that if the tick mouthparts remain in the skin this will not increase the risk of acquiring Lyme disease. Advise them to use a skin disinfectant on the area to reduce the risk of developing ordinary skin infections.
- Dispose of the tick in ordinary household rubbish, or send it to the Health Protection Agency as part of the tick recording scheme (see www.hpa.org.uk).
- If the person has a history of a recent tick bite but is otherwise well:
- Antibiotic prophylaxis following a tick bite is not routinely recommended.
- Advise the person to seek immediate medical advice if they develop any symptoms of Lyme disease.
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