Tick bites
Tick bites are not usually painful, so you may not realise you've been bitten straight away.
Symptoms of a tick bite can include:
- a small red lump on the skin
- swelling
- itchiness
- blistering
- bruising
Ticks in the UK can sometimes carry a potentially serious infection called Lyme disease, so they should be removed as soon as possible if you find one attached to your skin.
See your GP if you develop any symptoms of Lyme disease, such as a rash that looks like a "bull's-eye on a dartboard" or a fever.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks.
It's usually easier to treat if it's diagnosed early.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Many people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a circular red skin rash around a tick bite.
The rash can appear up to 3 months after being bitten by a tick and usually lasts for several weeks.
Most rashes appear within the first 4 weeks
Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the rash. Some people also have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- headaches
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness and loss of energy
Most tick bites are harmless
Only a small number of ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
A tick bite can only cause Lyme disease in humans if the tick has already bitten an infected animal.
But it's still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.
Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk areas include grassy and wooded areas in southern England and the Scottish Highlands.
How to spot and remove ticks
Important
Tick bites are not always painful. You may not notice a tick unless you see it on your skin.
Regularly check your skin and your children's or pets' skin after being outdoors.
To remove a tick safely:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it.
- Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.
- The risk of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you become unwell.
See a GP if:
- you have been bitten by a tick or visited an area in the past month where infected ticks are found
and
you get:
- flu-like symptoms – such as feeling hot and shivery, headaches, aching muscles or feeling sick, or
Tell them if you have been in forests or grassy areas.
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This site does not offer medical advice.
