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Tick removal - Treatment

Do Not:

  • Do NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.
  • Do NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.
  • Do NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, vaseline, or similar material.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

Call your doctor if you have not been able to remove the entire tick. Also call if in the days following a tick bite you develop:

Call 911 if you have any signs of:

First Aid:

If a tick is attached to you, follow these steps to remove it:

  1. Grasp the tick close to its head or mouth with tweezers. Do not use your bare fingers. If needed, use a tissue or paper towel.
  2. Pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Avoid squeezing or crushing the tick. Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.
  3. Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Also wash your hands thoroughly.
  4. Save the tick in a jar and watch carefully for the next week or two for signs of Lyme disease.
  5. If all parts of the tick cannot be removed, get medical help. Bring the tick in the jar to your doctor's appointment.
  • Reviewed last on: 1/2/2011
  • Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Bolgiano EB, Sexton J. Tick-borne illnesses. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 132.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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