Is this your symptom?
- A tick (small brown bug) is attached to the skin or was removed from the skin
Symptoms of a Tick Bite
- A tick bite does not cause pain. It may or may not itch. So, ticks may not be noticed for a few days.
- After feeding on blood, ticks get swollen and easier to see.
- Ticks fall off on their own after sucking blood for 3 to 6 days.
- After the tick comes off, a little red bump may be seen.
- The red bump or spot is the body's response to the tick's saliva (spit).
- While the tick is sucking blood, some of its spit gets mixed in.
Causes of Tick Bites
- The wood tick (dog tick) is the size of an apple seed. After feeding, it can double or triple in size. Sometimes, it can pass on Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Colorado tick fever.
- The deer tick is the size of a poppy seed. After a feeding, it can triple in size. Sometimes, it can pass on Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease
- More than 90% of people who get Lyme disease live in or have traveled to high-risk states. Lyme disease mainly occurs in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest. Many states do not have Lyme disease. For the current list of states that have higher rates, see the CDC website.
- About 80% of Lyme disease starts with a bull's eye rash called erythema migrans. The rash starts at the site of the tick bite. It starts on the average at 7 days. It grows larger quickly, to more than 2 inches (5 cm) wide. It can become as large as 12 inches (30 cm). It lasts 2 or 3 weeks. Treatment of this rash with an antibiotic is advised. This almost always prevents the later stages of Lyme disease. If Lyme disease isn't treated, heart, joint and neurologic problems can occur.
- Taking antibiotics after deer tick bites to prevent Lyme disease depends on the risk. The risk is low if the tick was attached a short time. The risk is higher if the deer tick was attached for longer than 36 hours. It's also higher if the tick is swollen, not flat. Ask your doctor for advice.
- The risk of Lyme disease after a deer tick bite is low. Even in high risk areas, only 2% of deer tick bites cause Lyme Disease.
When to Call for Tick Bite
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Widespread rash starts 2 to 14 days after the bite
- Fever or headache starts 2 to 14 days after the bite
- Fever and bite looks infected (spreading redness)
- Weak, droopy eyelid, droopy face or crooked smile
- No past tetanus shots
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Can't remove the tick
- Deer tick was attached for more than 36 hours
- Deer tick is swollen, not flat
- New redness starts more than 24 hours after the bite. Note: infection is rare. It does not start until at least 24-48 hours after the bite.
- More than 48 hours since the bite and redness getting larger
- Last tetanus shot was more than 10 years ago
- Red-ring or bull's eye rash appears around a tick bite. Note: the rash of Lyme disease starts 3 to 30 days after the bite.
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Tick bite and no other problems
- Preventing tick bites
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
