Tick bites

Tick bites usually don't hurt, but a red lump may appear where the tick bit you.

In some cases, a tick bite may also cause:

• swelling
• itchiness
• blistering
• bruising

Contact a doctor if you've been in an area where a tick could have bitten you and you have:

• a pink or red rash
• a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
• other flu-like symptoms, like a headache or joint pain
• swollen lymph nodes

To remove a tick, you should:

• Use a tick removal device or fine-toothed tweezers to gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible.
• Pull steadily away from the skin without crushing the tick.
• Wash your skin with water and soap afterwards.
• Apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite.

Many pharmacies and outdoor stores sell tick removal devices, and they're useful if you often spend time in areas where there are ticks.

If the tick's mouthparts break off in the skin and can't be removed, they may cause some irritation, but they should fall out naturally in time.

Do not use a cigarette end, match head, alcohol or petroleum jelly on a tick.

Once you've removed a tick, keep an eye on the area where you were bitten. If you've been bitten and have no symptoms, you don't need to speak to your doctor.

Take any ticks off yourself or your clothing before you wash the clothes.

If a tick is on your clothing, or on other fabric such as a carpet or bedding, you can pick it off with tweezers. Then wrap the tick tightly in tape and put it in an outside bin.

You don't need to disinfect clothing that has had a tick on it.

You can take a few simple steps to lower the chance of getting a tick bite.

• stay on paths and keep out of long grass when you walk outdoors
• wear a long-sleeved shirt, and trousers tucked into your socks, when you walk outdoors
• wear light-coloured clothes for walking, as this may help you spot a tick on them
• use insect repellent on exposed skin
• check your skin and clothing for ticks after you've been outdoors
• check your children's skin for ticks, especially the head and neck areas, including the scalp
• check that pets don't bring ticks into your home in their fur

If you have a tick bite, take the tick off as soon as you can. Doing this lowers the risk of a tick-borne infection such as Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, and it causes a pink or red circular rash to appear around the area of the bite.

Only a small number of ticks carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease, so being bitten doesn't mean you'll definitely be infected. But you should know about the risk, and you should speak to a doctor if you start to feel unwell.

Ticks feed on many kinds of mammals and birds, including squirrels, deer, sheep and garden birds. So you'll usually find them in places where these animals live, such as:

• woodland
• moorland
• grassy areas
• gardens
• parks

Ticks don't fly or jump. They climb on to animals or people as they brush past.

Tick season usually runs from March to October, but it may last longer. Wet weather and warmer temperatures keep ticks active for more of the year.

You should watch out for ticks all year round. Some symptoms of a tick bite, inflammation included, can take 2 to 3 months to develop.