If you notice a tick on your child's body you have to remove it as soon as possible. It must not be possible for germs to enter the child's body with the tick saliva. These endanger the health and life of the patient, especially if they enter the nervous system (neuroborreliosis). If there is swelling, severe redness, soreness and itching at the site where the tick was removed, the child should be taken to the doctor as soon as possible.
Tick removal - Symptoms and course
Ticks transmit a variety of diseases, so do not remove them with your bare hands - infection may result. The tick should be removed with tweezers, preferably grasped closest to the skin and pulled out or twisted out (counterclockwise) in one firm movement. It is important not to clamp the tweezers too tightly on the body of the tick, as this will lead to the tick being squashed and the entire contents being forced under the skin in the child.
If, for example, the tick breaks open or if the tick head remains in the tick body, it should also be removed in the same way as described above. It is not allowed to leave even the smallest fragment of the tick in the body of the child - this can lead to infection. After the tick has been removed from the child's skin, it should be crushed and discarded. The site of the tick should be observed in the child (for the next few weeks). It is very important to disinfect the wound, e.g. with hydrogen peroxide or salicylic acid.
When to go to the doctor and cure
If you are unable to pull the tick out, see a doctor or nurse. The same should be done if, after removing the tick, swelling, redness, erythema and flu-like symptoms appear in the child.
