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by Answerbag Staff on February 17th, 2010

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Should I worry about a tick that my 3-year-old had?

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  • by Rebekah Richards on February 17th, 2010

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    Great Answer

    Professionally Researched. (What's this?)

    On One Hand: Ticks Can Carry Disease

    Ticks are small parasites that can carry diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and ehrlichiosis. These diseases can be very serious if left untreated.

    If your child is bitten by a tick, remove the tick with tweezers. Grab the tick as close to your child's skin as possible and pull straight out; twisting the tick may leave its head in your body, which can become infected. Clean the bite with alcohol and keep the tick in a jar of alcohol. Watch the bit site for redness and tenderness, and pay attention to how your child feels, for the next few weeks. Immediately consult your doctor if you notice any change whatsoever.

    On the Other: Not All Ticks Transmit Disease

    Not all ticks carry diseases, but getting bitten and removing a benign tick isn't fun. And even if a disease-transmitting tick gets on your child, it may not yet have passed along the disease. A tick must be firmly attached and have finished it's blood meal or be at the very end of the meal before it can transmit a disease. In other words, if you see a tick just crawling on your child, or if you see a tick that is still small, is loosely attached and is easily removed, or if you find a firmly attached tick that is still flat and empty (not full of blood), it's a safe bet you child hasn't been infected.

    Bottom Line

    Ticks survive off blood, both animal and human, so we need to watch out for our pets as well as our children and ourselves. Unless you're an expert in tick identification, you should be careful to avoid ticks. If your child gets bitten, keep vigil over the site and keep watch on how your child feels for several weeks. If you see any change at all, or if you just want to be reassured that your child is safe, bring your child and the tick in its alcohol to your doctor.

    Source:

    Pelotes Island Nature Preserve: Tick Safety

    Medline Plus: Tick Bites

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