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Donna Marie Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: New Jersey
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Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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the season is upon us once again!
My father called me. He just removed a tick from a very sensitive area IYKWIM... he says the area is kinda dark where the tick was (pencil eraser size) and wanted to know what he can do to help himself and what to look for. It has been awhile since I dealt with ticks and I know I am not thinking of everything. (despite the fact that I dealt with lyme and my dd in the past)
What kind of a advice should I give him. He has enough to worry about right now...
TIA!
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 8dc!
__________________ God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: April 02 2009 at 11:16am | IP Logged
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Just this week, my 4 1/2 year old also had a tick on just such a sensitive area.
Our ped said a trick to see if everything was remove is to hold a small focused light (like those doctors use, but a penlight might work) up to the skin to illuminate the area and unless you see shadows, it is fully removed with no remaining bug parts.
Also, save the tick (maybe too late) if you want to have it tested. Does he think it was a deer tick or a regular tick? Regular ticks can transmit stuff, but not Lyme. The sources I found were $75. If it looked fat and bloated, it might have been there long enough to transmit disease, butif you catch it early, its unlikely.
Watch for flu like symptoms and rash.We used betadine, but maybe not necessary.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: April 02 2009 at 12:22pm | IP Logged
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From what I've read pull the tick straight out with tweezers.. and an antibiotic cream on afterward.. which makes sense since you treat Lyme's with antibiotics.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Erin Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Australia
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Posted: April 02 2009 at 9:51pm | IP Logged
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Actually I believe you are better to twist with the tweezers before you pull, just to make sure you don't leave the head behind. Well interesting to know that ticks are not just in this country, the things I learn on this board.
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: April 03 2009 at 1:15am | IP Logged
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From MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Quote:
If a tick is attached to you, follow these steps to remove it.
1) Grasp the tick close to its head or mouth with tweezers or your fingernails. Pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.
2) Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Also wash your hands thoroughly.
3) Save the tick in a jar and watch carefully for the next week or two for signs of Lyme disease.
4)If all the parts of the tick cannot be removed, get medical help.
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Quote:
DO NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.
DO NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.
DO NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, vaseline, or similar material. |
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__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
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Posted: April 03 2009 at 5:13pm | IP Logged
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To transmit disease, the ticks have to be attached for a prolonged period of time ( 24 hours). If you catch it quickly, then the risk of something like Lymes disease is low.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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stellamaris Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009 Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 03 2009 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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Lyme's disease often leaves a target-like rash around the bite site, but not always. The target rash is a definite sign of Lyme's. The other symptoms are pretty subtle, including low grade fever, exhaustion, and headaches. Some people also get an extensive rash over part of the body a few weeks after infection. It is treated with antibiotics.
__________________ In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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folklaur Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: April 03 2009 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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oh, gosh, i remember growing up in NJ, and every evening in the summer i had to sit on the front steps with my mom so she could do the "tick check" in my hair. ick.
and - being pre-internet and all -- i remmeber them using hot needles pressed to the tick for them to release. i wonder why that is bad to do?
my kids never had a tick the entire time I lived in AZ. our dog did, so i know they were around. huh.
oh, but i hate ticks.
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: April 04 2009 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
and - being pre-internet and all -- i remmeber them using hot needles pressed to the tick for them to release. i wonder why that is bad to do? |
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Because it puts the tick into shock and causes it to regurgitate into the blood stream increasing exposure to all the icky germs one fears from a tick. Same with squeezing with tweezers not at the head--it squeezes all the insides of the tick into the person.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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