3 Quick Steps for Tick Bite Management

A tick is a parasite that feeds on animal and human blood. There are 70 types of ticks found in Australia with over 800 being found worldwide.

There are two common types of ticks. A hard tick and a soft tick. Soft ticks very rarely come in to contact with people.

Ticks are most commonly found in moist or wet, humid coastal areas with large amounts of bush.

IN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO TICKS:

Step 1: Before removing the tick, you can spray the parasite with insect repellent containing pyrethrin. There is NO evidence that this has any benefit however it is not detrimental. If it is an extremely small tick, you can use a permethrin based cream available from any chemist.

Step 2: remove tick with fine tipped tweezers. To do this, grasp the tick as close as possible to the skins surface. Pull in an upwards direction with firm pressure. Avoid twisting or ripping the tick.

Step 3: Monitor health and if you start to feel unwell at any point after removal, seek medical assistance.

If you are allergic and bitten by a tick, SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY FROM YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR DOCTOR

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