Medicines for Tick bites

What it is

Ticks are tiny, spider-like creatures that feed on blood, found in grassy, wooded and moorland areas, and in some gardens, particularly in warmer months. They attach to the skin (often on the legs, or warm areas like the groin, armpits, waistband and hairline) and feed for hours or days, becoming larger as they fill with blood. A tick bite itself is usually painless and harmless, and many people do not notice it. The importance of tick bites is that some ticks can pass on infections — most notably, in the UK and much of Europe and North America, Lyme disease (a bacterial infection), and in some regions other tick-borne illnesses. The risk from a single bite is generally low, and not all ticks carry infection, but because Lyme disease is easier to treat when caught early, it is important to remove ticks promptly and correctly, and to be aware of the warning signs afterwards.

How it is treated

The key actions are safe tick removal and awareness. A tick should be removed as soon as it is noticed, using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool: grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards steadily and firmly, without twisting or crushing it, then clean the area — avoiding old methods like burning it or using substances, which can increase the risk. After a tick bite, it is important to watch for symptoms of Lyme disease over the following weeks: most characteristically an expanding circular or "bull's-eye" rash spreading out from the bite (which does not always occur), and/or flu-like symptoms (tiredness, headache, muscle and joint aches, fever). If these develop, or if you are worried, see a doctor, as early Lyme disease is treated effectively with antibiotics. Preventing bites — covering skin, using insect repellent, and checking for ticks after being outdoors in tick areas — is the best protection. The reassuring message is that most tick bites are harmless, but prompt removal and awareness of Lyme disease symptoms are important.