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Ticks!! Removal, Lyme disease, Tick-borne Encephalitis

Tick activity is highest in the Spring and early Summer. If you are active in the Outdoors chances are you've removed a tick or two in your time! The aim is to remove all parts of the tick's body and mouth parts and avoid compressing the tick's body causing it to release additional saliva or regurgitate its stomach contents into your bite wound.

Article Contents:

  1. How to remove a tick
  2. BMC video on ticks and how to deal with them
  3. Lyme Disease
  4. Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE)
  5. Preventing Tick Bites
  6. Public Health England Tick Surveillance Scheme

How to Remove a Tick

The aim is to remove all parts of the tick's body and mouth parts and avoid compressing the tick's body causing it to release additional saliva or regurgitate its stomach contents into your bite wound.  

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The best option for tick removal is to use a specialised tool such as the O'TOM Tick Twister as pictured above.

  1. Choose the most suitable hook, according to the size of the tick
  2. Engage the hook by approaching the tick from the side (the body of a tick is flat) until it is held
  3. Lift the hook very lightly and TURN IT (screwing or unscrewing)
  4. The tick detaches by itself after 2 or 3 rotations

If you don't have a specific tick removal tool then use tweezers:

  1. Put on a pair of gloves to avoid touching the tick
  2. Grip the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to your skin as possible
  3. Pull straight upwards gently but firmly

DO: take your time. Although it is unpleasant to have a tick and they should be removed promptly you don't need to rush! If the tick is attached for more than 24hrs the risk of contract Lyme diesase increases.
DO: cleanse the bite site, tweezers and/or tick removal tool with antiseptic before and after removal.
DO: wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
DO: save the tick in a container in case you develop symptoms later and label it with date and location.
DO: contact your doctor if you notice a red rash spreading around the tick bite or if you feel generally unwell or have flu-like symptoms

DO NOT: squeeze or twist the body of the tick.  This may cause the head and body to separate, leaving the head embedded in your skin.
DO NOT: crush the tick's body. This may cause it to regurgitate its infected stomach contents into the bite wound.
DO NOT: try to burn the tick off with cigarettes or matches, apply petroleum jelly, nail polish or any other chemical. Any of these methods can cause discomfort to the tick, resulting in regurgitation, or saliva release.

BMC video on ticks and how to deal with them

Lyme Disease

If you are bitten by a tick then there is a risk that you will contract Lyme disease. You need to know what the symptoms are. 

The classic Lyme disease symptom is the bull's eye rash. Not everyone with Lyme disease develops this rash but if you've got the rash then it's sure you've got Lyme disease. The rash appears 2 - 40 days after infection. It has a red outer ring and a pale centre with the tick bite in its centre.

If not treated quickly then Lyme disease can cause prolonged illness of the nervous system. If you suspect that you have Lyme Disease go to your GP immediately as you need to begin anti-biotic treament straight away. Even if they do a test you shouldn't wait for the results to start treatment.

Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE)

The TBE virus isn't present in ticks in the UK, so you can get Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in the UK but not TBE. For more information about TBE prevention, symptoms and countries where it is present visit the Tick Alert website. 

Tourist information offices are not obliged to warn tourists if there are holidaying in areas where TBE or Lyme disease are prevalent.

Preventing Tick Bites

  • Use an insect repellent that is effective against ticks
  • Avoid wearing shorts in rural and wooded areas, tuck trousers into socks, or cover all exposed skin with protective clothing
  • Brush over clothing to remove loose ticks before going inside. Check skin carefully all over for ticks. Pay attention to folds in the skin and other areas where a tick could hide, especially behind the knee and in the groin. On small children pay attention to the hairline.
  • Inspect your skin carefully all over for ticks and remove as soon as possible
  • Avoid unpasteurised milk which may also be infected with the TBE virus in endemic regions

public health england tick surveillance scheme

Public Health England - Tick Awareness

Send your ticks to Public Health England surveillance scheme to help them monitor tick distribution on a nationwide level. Download the guidance on how to take part below.

Downloads

PHE Tick Surveillance Scheme Guidance - October 2019

 

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