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Date issued: December 2022

Review date: December 2024

Ref: A-559/NB/ED/Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

PDF:  Tick Bites and Lyme Disease final December 2022.pdf [pdf] 148KB

What is a tick?

Ticks are small insect-like creatures, about the size of a pinhead. Ticks feed by biting the skin and sucking blood from animals such as dogs, cats, sheep, deer, mice and sometimes humans.

What are the complications of being bitten by a tick?

Many insect bites cause a small red blotchy 'allergic' rash to appear soon after the skin is bitten.  Some ticks are infected with the bug that causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). However, most ticks in the UK are not infected by this bacterium, so most tick bites in the UK will not cause Lyme disease.

What are the symptoms?

The first and typical symptom is usually a rash that spreads out from the site of the tick bite. This could also be a simple infection of the bite rather than Lyme disease.

The typical Lyme disease rash can develop anytime between 2 and 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick. It has a typical spreading circular appearance, a bit like a ‘target’ or ‘bulls eye’.

What other symptoms do I need to look out for?

Flu-like symptoms occur in about half of cases. Symptoms include tiredness, general aches and pains, headache, fever, chills and neck stiffness.  These symptoms are often mild and go within a few days even without treatment (but the infection may not have gone).

Do I need further tests?

In most cases, Lyme disease is diagnosed by the typical symptoms. Other tests are not needed in this situation and treatment is usually given.  Later on, if symptoms continue blood, urine tests and skin tests can be helpful (but not always conclusive) in diagnosing the disease if it is suspected from the symptoms.

What is the treatment?

A course of antibiotics will usually clear the infection. The type of antibiotic, and the length of the course, can vary depending on individual circumstances.

Do I need to see my GP?

Some people develop more severe symptoms if the disease progresses.  It is a good idea to see your GP if you have re-occurring similar rashes, prolonged episodes of joint pain, persistent headaches or heart problems.

Can Lyme Disease be prevented?

The following will reduce your risk of developing Lyme disease:

• Avoid areas where infected ticks live, e.g. long grass

• Long sleeve shirts and long trousers can help

• Check for ticks on yourself and your children if you have been in high-risk areas such as moorland, long grass, etc.

• Consider using a tick repellent spray or cream

• Check that ticks are not brought home on clothes

• Check that pets do not bring ticks into the home on their fur

To remove a tick that is attached to your skin:

• Gently grip the tick as close to the point of attachment to the skin as possible. Do this preferably using fine-toothed tweezers or forceps, or a tick removal device

• Pull steadily very gently turning upwards, away from the skin. Take care not to crush the tick

• Do not:

  • Burn the tick off (for example, using a match)

  • Apply petroleum jelly, alcohol, nail varnish remover etc. as this may stimulate the tick to regurgitate potentially infected material which may increase the risk of transmission of infection.