Experts advise on tick removal, post-bite care, and disease prevention

12 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Apr 25

Guidance comes as tick season peaks in the US from April to September, with nymphs active and Lyme disease risk heightened. Experts from leading universities stress immediate removal using fine-tipped tweezers.
They recommend photographing or saving the tick for identification, cleaning the bite area, and consulting a doctor, especially in Lyme-endemic regions. Prophylactic antibiotics may be advised within 72 hours for high-risk bites.
Symptoms like fever, rash, or joint swelling can appear weeks or months after a bite. Prompt action and awareness of various tick-borne illnesses are crucial for effective prevention and treatment.

Why are emergency rooms seeing the most tick bites in nearly a decade this spring?

One tick bite may transmit multiple diseases. How are doctors treating complex co-infections?

A tick bite can cause a fatal meat allergy. Are you prepared for Alpha-gal Syndrome?

Is the one-dose antibiotic after a tick bite enough to prevent chronic complications?

If a tick tests positive for Lyme, what are your actual chances of getting sick?

With climate change expanding tick habitats, which new regions are now at high risk?