Ticks

Home treatment:

Remove the tick (see tick bite). Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the insect
• the time the bite occurred
• the part of the body affected

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

If possible, bring the insect to the emergency room for identification.

What to expect at the emergency room:

• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis (probable outcome) will depend on what type of infection the tick may have been carrying and how soon appropriate treatment was instigated.