Self Care Guideline for Lyme Disease

If you think your child has Lyme disease, call his or her doctor. If you have found a tick on the skin and removed it, save it in a jar of alcohol for identification.

Ticks begin transmitting Lyme disease about 24–48 hours after attaching to the host. You can reduce your child’s chances of getting Lyme disease by removing the tick within 48 hours.

To remove the tick, you will need tweezers and isopropyl alcohol. Your child may be scared, but you should explain that this will not hurt them.

1. Sterilize the tweezers with alcohol and make sure to wash your hands. You should not clean or disturb the skin with the tick.
2. Grasp the part of the tick that is embedded in e else hold the area with the tick so that the child doesn’t jerk away. the skin with the tweezers, not the body where you may see tiny legs. If necessary, have someon
3. The tick will likely be firmly embedded. Pull it outward in one motion. Do not twist or jerk the tweezers. Do not apply anything to the tick that you think may help it come out smoothly as this may result in a part of the tick being left in the skin.
4. Clean the bite wound with alcohol. Children have very sensitive skin, so you may notice an immediate swelling where the once was. If you are not sure that the entire tick has been removed, see your child’s doctor.

Observe the bitten area for the appearance of a rash for up to a month after the bite. It is probably best to call your child’s doctor for further guidance if you think he or she has been bitten by a tick. If a rash or other early symptoms of Lyme disease develop, see a physician immediately.