By Alice Facente, RN

Q: I found a tick embedded in my son’s skin. I removed it, cleaned the area, and put antibiotic ointment on it. Now what should I do?

A: Research has found that infected ticks need to feed for 24-36 hours before transmission occurs. So if we look carefully before we bathe, there is a better chance we can find the ticks before they ever have a chance to spread diseases.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health recommends the following:

  • Write on the calendar the date you removed the tick. Check this area daily for 30 days.
  • The early symptoms of Lyme disease usually occur within the first month and can include an expanding red rash that may appear around the area of the bite that can resemble a bull’s eye. after the tick bite. Later symptoms can occur several weeks to several months later.
  • Call to report your findings to your physician, or to discuss further concerns you may have.

Alice Facente is the former community health education nurse for the Backus Health System.