You can safely transport a tick by putting it in alcohol and placing it in a sealed bag or container, or dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet. If you find a tick on your child that’s noticeably bigger and you’re unsure which type of tick it is, remove the tick and take it and your child to your family doctor. The longer a tick is latched on, the larger it will get. If it’s a blacklegged tick that’s been latched on for less than 24 hours, the risk of transmission of Lyme disease is extremely unlikely. If it’s an American dog tick, there’s no risk of Lyme disease. After removing, wash the skin with soap and water.Pull it straight out, gently but firmly.Remove the tick carefully with fine tip tweezers by grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible.If you find a tick on your child that has latched on, follow these steps to remove the tick (source: Hamilton Public Health). If you find a tick on your child that hasn’t latched onto the skin, there aren’t health risks. When checking for ticks, slowly run your hands along your child’s skin and through their hair. But since they have a hard shell, you may be able to feel them.Ī young tick can be the size of a poppy seed while an engorged tick can be the size of a raisin. Since young ticks can be very small, about the size of a poppy seed, they’re not always easy to see. Ticks will hide in areas of the body that are less visible, such as in hair, along the hairline (including behind the ears) and in the armpits. While these ticks are less common, they could be found in any areas where ticks live: woods, bushy areas and tall grass.įor more information on the different ticks, visit the City of Hamilton’s Public Health webpage. The type of tick that transmits Lyme disease is the blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). This type of tick does not transmit Lyme disease and shouldn’t cause concern. The most common type of tick in Ontario, including the Hamilton area, is the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). The risk of contracting Lyme disease in Ontario is low, but it’s best to do a tick check (see below) on yourself, your kids and your dog if you’ve been in areas where ticks are common during tick season, typically from April to October. If it’s been less than 24 hours, then the area is most likely going to feel like a regular bug bite and there is no risk for Lyme disease. Know your ticksĪ tick needs to be latched onto the skin for 24 to 36 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease. Just like other insects, ticks will bite – and one type of tick can carry and transmit an infection called Lyme disease. Over the past few years, ticks have become more prevalent in our area. Sarah Khan, pediatric infectious diseases specialist, McMaster Children’s Hospital
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