[jdoneil1]

I need advise. My little DS had two ticks on him last night. I'm pretty sure I got the entire bugs off him (no heads left). I then treated the area with an alcohol solution and triple antibiotic gel with a bandaid to keep them clean.

I HATE TICKS! They give me the heebie-jeebies more than any other creepy crawly on earth! I'm scare of Lyme disease and the other illnesses they carry. And just the thought of something attaching itself to my babies little body and sucking his blood makes me ill.

I'm going to call the local hospital later this morning to get the low-down on what to look for in possible illness but I figure you ladies might be able to help me, too.

Any thoughts/ideas/comments? All advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Pooky]

Oh your poor DS! Ticks are nasty business and yeah, you have to make sure and get it all off or it will still bury itself in the skin. I would probably go a step further and take your ds to a clinic to get it checked out--never can be too careful, if ya know what I mean.

[AdoAnnie]

Ticks are the pits!! I agree that it wouldn't hurt to go in and make sure that the whole tick is out--so that it doesn't get infected. I know that a sign of Lyme Disease is if the bite gets a bright red circle around it. Take care.

[jdoneil1]

Thanks, Ladies.

I'm calling his pediatrician in the AM. It costs me $150 just to walk into the local Emergency room (no clinics on Sunday).

I'll let you all know what's happening.

[Tippy]

Out here, ticks are a part of life! What you did was the right thing to do. Next time, put alcohol on the instrument that you pull the tick off with and pour more on the bite afterwards.

I'd have it checked out if you see any sign of infection, but don't panic yet.

I had one attach itself to a fold of my ear once. DH pulled it out with a plier and I think that if he would have used more alcohol, it would have been all right. I got an infection and ended up at the doctor.

We do body checks after working outside all the time--DH loves it!
Men are so easily entertained!

[jiffypop]

it does sound as if you got them out before the little buggers really settled in!!! BUT, a bite is a bite.

did you save them? yes, a gross disgusting thought, but only certain kinds of ticks carry lyme disease, and others carry rocky mountain spotted fever, and other unpleasant disease. and sometimes it helps to actually have the tick to help with the diagnosis.

that bullet rash is seen only in about half of lyme disease patients, unfortunately. when it's there, it really makes the diagnosis easier, but it so often isn't.

yes. seeing the ped on monday will be just fine.

watch for rashes.

here's a useful general info link for you. http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/se...er308/308e.htm

if that's too technical, look on the merck website for the family medicine manual and search for "tick bite"

i agree with tippy about using the alcohol. it helps the tick release its grip. and in a pinch, i've been known to use gin or vodka!!! hey... rubbing alcohol and ethanol [in gin and vodka] are not the same compound, but both of them hurt the tick and that's the whole point. but the gin/vodka take longer than the rubbing alcohol.