Tick bites
Ticks are small, spider-like creatures. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans.
Ticks vary in size and are usually between 1mm to 1cm long. They have either 6 or 8 legs.
Symptoms of tick bites
Tick bites aren’t usually painful but they may cause a red lump to develop where you were bitten.
In some cases, tick bites may cause:
- swelling
- itchiness
- blistering
- bruising
Non-urgent advice: Speak to your GP practice:
If you’ve been in an area where you could have been bitten by a tick and you have:
- a pink or red rash
- a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
- other flu-like symptoms, like a headache or joint pain
- swollen lymph nodes
Tick bites self-help guide
Complete this self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Self-help guide
How to remove a tick
To remove a tick, you should:
- Use a tick removal device or fine-toothed tweezers to gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull steadily away from the skin without crushing the tick.
- Wash your skin with water and soap afterwards.
- Apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite.
Many pharmacies and outdoor stores sell tick removal devices. These are useful if you often spend time in areas where there are ticks.
If the tick’s mouthparts break off in the skin and can’t be removed, this may cause irritation but they they should fall out naturally in time.
Do not use a cigarette end, match head, alcohol or petroleum jelly on a tick.
Once you’ve removed a tick, monitor the area where you were bitten. You do not need to speak to your GP if you’ve been bitten and have no symptoms.
How to remove a tick from your clothing
You should remove any ticks from yourself or your clothing before washing.
You can use tweezers to remove a tick from your clothing or any other fabric (like a carpet or bedding). You could then tightly wrap the tick in tape and put it in an outside bin.
You don’t need to disinfect clothing that has a tick on it.
How to prevent tick bites
There are some steps you can take to help prevent tick bites.
Do
- stay on paths and avoid long grass when walking outdoors
- wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers tucked into your socks when walking outdoors
- wear light-coloured fabrics for walking – this may help you to spot a tick on your clothing
- use insect repellent on exposed skin
- check your skin and clothing for ticks after being outdoors
- check your children’s skin for ticks – especially the head and neck areas, including their scalp
- check that pets do not bring ticks into your home in their fur
Complications of tick bites
If you have a tick bite, you should remove the tick as soon as possible. This helps to reduce the risk of getting a tick-borne infection like Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that causes a pink or red circular rash to develop around the area of the bite.
A small number of ticks carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. Being bitten doesn’t mean you’ll definitely be infected. But, it’s important to be aware of the risk and speak to a GP if you start to feel unwell.
Where are ticks found?
Ticks feed from a variety of mammals and birds, including squirrels, deer, sheep and garden birds. This means they’re usually found in areas with these animals, like:
- woodland
- moorland
- grassy areas
- gardens
- parks
Ticks don’t fly or jump but climb on to animals or humans as they brush past.
When is tick season?
Tick season is usually between March and October but it may last longer. This is because wet weather and warmer temperatures make ticks active for longer in the year.
You should be aware of ticks all year round. This is because some symptoms of a tick bite, including inflammation, can take 2 to 3 months to develop.