I just had to pull a tick off my little boy's head. It was hidden in his hair! *horrified*

[GreenPartyVoter]

I'm taking the tick and the kid to the doc tomorrow since lyme disease is prevalent here.

[supernova]

1. Is it a regular tick

and not one of those microscopic deer ticks?

Deer ticks are the ones that carry lyme disease.

Where you able to get the whole thing out,including the head?

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Not sure. It's fairly big, smaller than a popcorn kernel but not microscopic. It doesn't appear

to be engorged, but I will let the doc decide that tomorrow. She'll also have to check the site on his head to be sure that I got all of it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. UPDATE: Called the doc and the nurse said to just keep an eye on the site and

wash it it daily, and maybe treat it with antibiotic ointment.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Happy Spring!

I hope it wasn't a deer tick (fingers crossed for ya.)

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I don't think it was, but I am no expert. Doc will have to tell us tomorrow. :^)

[Midlodemocrat]

5. Oh, honey. Been there. Hopefully, it's just a dog tick

and not an infected deer tick. And, remember, the infected deer tick has to be attached for 48 hours for it to be an issue.

Little boys. They are something, aren't they? :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Little boys, indeed! This kid loves to roll around in the field. Any guesses on how he got that tick

:P

[Eurobabe]

14. My daughter had a tick in her ear when she was only 18 mos.

it was stuck in the fold, we couldn't see it, but she kept pulling on her ear. I almost barfed when I saw the damn thing in the crease. We took her right to the emergency clinic and had it removed. This was before the Lyme scare (1985).

Now I have to watch for ticks on my boys (my cats).

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. The thing that worries me is that deer ticks are teensy. They could be so easy to miss. I never

worried too much about them but after this I definitely will.

[Eurobabe]

18. Honestly?

As a child, I played in the fields and woods all day long, I am sure I had a tick or two in my lifetime, and I turned out okay. :) We can't protect our kids from everything.

In Germany there is a vaccine (Lymrix?) it is recommended for campers, hikers, anyone who is outdoors frequently.

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. I turned out okay, too. :^) I don't think we have a vaccine in the US anymore, from what I read on

the 'net last night.

[ThomCat]

6. I hope it's the wrong type of tick, and your son is okay.

:hug:

It's definitely good to be careful and check. I'm glad you can get in to see the doctor tomorrow.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Thanks! I'll post an update tomorrow when I have more info, but it looks like he should be ok

[kath]

7. You don't need to see a doc unless your kid is having symptoms, or if the head is still embedded.

If the tic was moving after you pulled it out, it was completely removed.

See this site - very thorough, including advice for when to "call your doctor now", "call your doctor later" or "treat at home".
http://www.seattlechildrens.org/child_health_safety/health_advice/tick_bite.asp

It's a common misconception that every tick bite is an emergency, or at least an urgent situation. It's NOT.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. It's in a jar and still moving even as I type this a few hours later. Yay me for getting it out

in one piece!

Thanks for the link. I will call the doc and see what she says. Maybe we won't even have to go in.

[SPKrazy]

9. I bet it was a nervous tick

when you took it off :P

that is scary

I hate ticks

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Yes, verrrry nervous, and my little guy was a bit freaked. But we seem to have come through it ok

[applegrove]

13. That's a pain. Glad you got the tick though.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Thanks!

[RadiationTherapy]

20. I love living at 7000 feet.

Not too many ticks up here!

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Any oxygen up there? :^P But yeah, you are lucky not to have these nasty little critters

[Maine-ah]

21. They're bad this year.

I pulled one off of me two days ago, and one off of BB Maine-ah the day after. The one I pulled off of me was just sinking into my skin, the one off of the BB was on her pants.

on edit....

to kill them you put them in rubbing alcohol, and if they're stuck on you, pour rubbing alcohol and vaseline to get them off.

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. I hope they weren't deer ticks! I dunno how anyone finds them, they are so teensy

[Goblinmonger]

24. How'd you get it out

From my youth, but best way was to put rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and then dab it on the tick. They pull out. My brother's preferred method was to light a match, blow it out, and immediately put it on the body of the tick. It pulls out pretty quickly.

Don't get too freaked out. They make little cards that have a hole in it. Deer ticks fit through the hole; others don't. Perhaps your doctor has one that they can give you.