Tick Bite

Is this your child's symptom?

  • A tick (small brown bug) is attached to the skin
  • A tick 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 it's 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

  • Over 95% of people who get Lyme disease live in or have traveled to 14 high-risk states. Lyme disease mainly occurs in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest. Many states do not have Lyme disease. The CDC reports over 30,000 new cases per year (2015).
  • 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.
  • Giving antibiotics after deer tick bites to prevent Lyme Disease depends on the risk. The risk is low with brief attachment. The risk is high 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

  • Can't remove the tick after trying this care advice
  • Tick bite and No past tetanus shots. Note: tetanus is the "T" in DTaP, TdaP, or Td vaccines.
  • 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
  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

  • 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: bacterial 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 now getting larger
  • Tick bite and last tetanus shot was more than 10 years ago
  • Red-ring or bull's eye rash occurs around a deer tick bite. Note: the rash of Lyme disease starts 3 to 30 days after the bite.
  • You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

  • You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

  • Wood tick bite
  • Deer tick bite
  • Preventing tick bites

Seattle Children's Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice

Treating Tick Bites

  1. What You Should Know About Wood Tick Bites:
    • Most wood tick bites are harmless.
    • The spread of disease by wood ticks is not common.
    • If the tick is still attached to the skin, it needs to be taken off.
    • Try one of the methods described below to take out the tick.
  2. Wood Tick - How to Remove with Tweezers:
    • Use tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible (on its head).
    • Hold the tweezers sideways next to the top of the skin.
    • Pull the wood tick straight upward without twisting or crushing it.
    • Keep a steady pressure until the tick lets go of its grip.
    • If you don't have tweezers, you can use your fingers.
    • Other options. You can use a loop of thread around the jaws. You can also use a needle pushed between the jaws for traction. Jaws are the part of the head attached to the skin.
    • Not helpful: Covering the tick with petroleum jelly or nail polish doesn't work. Neither does rubbing alcohol or a soapy cotton ball. Touching the tick with a hot or cold object also doesn't work.
  3. What You Should Know About Deer Tick Bites:
    • Most deer tick bites are harmless.
    • The spread of disease by deer ticks is not common.
    • Even in high-risk areas, only 2% of deer tick bites cause Lyme disease.
    • Most people who get Lyme disease live in or have traveled to 14 high-risk states. Lyme disease mainly occurs in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Many states do not have Lyme disease.
  4. Deer Tick - How to Remove:
    • If it is swollen, try to remove with a tweezers. See wood tick advice.
    • Tiny deer ticks need to be scraped off.
    • You can remove them with the edge of a credit card.
  5. Tick's Head - When to Remove:
    • If the wood tick's head (mouth parts) breaks off in the skin, remove any large pieces.
    • Clean the skin with rubbing alcohol.
    • Use a clean tweezers or needle to scrape it off.
    • If a small piece remains, the skin will slowly heal and shed it.
  6. Antibiotic Ointment:
    • After the tick is removed, wash the wound with soap and water. Also, wash your hands after you are done.
    • This helps to prevent catching any infections carried by the tick.
    • Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
    • Put it on the bite once.
  7. What to Expect:
    • Most often, tick bites don't hurt. They may or may not itch.
    • That's why they may not be noticed.
    • The little bump goes away in 2 days.
    • If the tick transferred a disease, a rash will occur. It will appear in the next 4 weeks.
  8. Call Your Doctor If:
    • You tried and can't remove the tick
    • Fever or rash happens in the next 4 weeks
    • Bite starts to look infected
    • You think your child needs to be seen
    • Your child becomes worse

Prevent Tick Bites

  1. Prevent Tick Bites:
    • After being outdoors in deer tick areas, check for ticks. Remove any that are attached. Also, take a shower soon after coming inside.
    • Tumble any clothing in a hot dryer for 10 minutes. That should kill any ticks left in the clothing.
    • When hiking outside where there are ticks, wear long clothing. Tuck the ends of pants into socks.
    • Use a bug repellent to shoes, socks and exposed skin.
  2. Tick Repellent for Clothing - Permethrin:
    • Permethrin products (such as Duranon) work well to repel ticks.
    • Unlike DEET, these products are put on clothing instead of skin. They also can last through many washes. Use it on pant cuffs, socks and shoes. You can also put it on other outdoor items (bug netting, sleeping bags).
    • Do not put it on skin. Reason: Sweat changes it so it does not work.
  3. Tick Repellent for Skin - DEET:
    • DEET also works well to repel ticks. It can be used on the skin not covered by clothing.
    • US Age limit: if less than 2 months old, avoid all DEET products (AAP).
    • US: for children 2 months to 2 years old, use 10% DEET. After 2 years old, can use 30% DEET.
    • Protection: 10% DEET protects for 2 hours. 30% DEET protects for 6 hours.

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 10/11/2023

Last Revised: 12/30/2022

Copyright 2000-2023. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.