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Essential Tick Prevention Tips

A parent kneels down to spray their child's pants while hiking in a sunlit forest. They are both wearing plaid shirts and backpacks
Essential Tick Prevention Tips
Stay Tick-Free

Protect Your Children from Tick Bites with Expert Advice

Understanding Tick Prevention

Ticks are small parasites that can cause significant health issues, including Lyme disease. At Monadnock Community Hospital, we provide essential information and tips to help you protect your family from ticks. Our pediatric department offers practical advice to keep your children safe during outdoor activities.

Common Symptoms of Tick Bites

  • Redness or rash around the bite area
  • Fever or chills
  • Fatigue or muscle aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Effective Tick Prevention

Preventing tick bites is crucial for avoiding tick-borne illnesses. Here are some key tips:

  • Wear Protective Clothing: Dress your child in a hat, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when playing in wooded or grassy areas. Tuck your pants into your socks or boots.
  • Use Tick Repellent: Apply a tick repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Always follow the instructions on the product label. Tick and insect repellants that contain up to 30% DEET are the most effective and are safe for children more than 2 months of age. DEET should be reapplied every 4-6 hours. DEET can be toxic if swallowed and should be stored safely out of reach of children. Insect repellents containing Picaridin are an alternative to DEET. Products that contain permethrin (Permanone) are available for application to clothing (not skin!) and can protect gear and clothing through several washes.
  • Stay on Clear Paths: Encourage your child to walk on clear paths and avoid tall grass and dense vegetation where ticks are commonly found.
  • Check for Ticks: After outdoor activities, thoroughly check your child’s body for ticks, especially in hidden areas like the scalp, behind the ears, and under the arms.

Home Care Tips

  • Immediate Removal: If you find a tick on your child, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick.
  • Clean the Area: After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
  • Monitor Symptoms: Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illnesses, such as rash, fever, or fatigue, and seek medical attention if any symptoms develop.

Assessing Tick Bites

It is important to try to ascertain when the bite occurred. This helps us gauge your child’s risk for Lyme disease transmission. Our current office protocol is that if the tick has been attached for less than 24 hours, we recommend a monitoring approach. Continue to watch the site for any spreading redness or signs of infection such as warmth, discharge, or pain. Your child should also be monitored for the next several weeks for any signs of illness such as unexplained fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches (flu-like illness), or a rash that consists of one or more enlarging rings.

If you think that the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours, please give us a call and a Triage Nurse can review the situation with you. Remember, although our office may want you to notify us when there is a tick exposure for longer than 24 hours, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that ticks must be attached for 36-48 hours before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.

Tips from the Pediatrics Department

  • Wear Protective Clothing: Always dress your child in a hat, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when they are in areas where ticks are common.
  • Use Repellent: Apply a tick repellent with DEET to exposed skin and clothing.
  • Check for Ticks: ALWAYS conduct thorough tick checks after outdoor activities, paying attention to the scalp, ears, and underarms.
  • Avoid Tick Habitats: Encourage children to play in open areas away from tall grass and dense vegetation.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If your child develops symptoms such as a rash, fever, or muscle aches after a tick bite, seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for preventing complications from tick-borne illnesses.

Why Choose Monadnock Community Hospital’s Pediatrics Department?

Your child’s health is our top priority. At Monadnock Community Hospital, we offer expert, compassionate pediatric care from birth to adolescence. Our dedicated team of board-certified pediatricians and nurses provides comprehensive services. We believe in partnering with families to create personalized care plans and foster a healthy start in life. With a rich history of serving our community, we’re committed to providing accessible, high-quality care in a warm and welcoming environment. As a not-for-profit hospital serving families since 1923, you can trust us to deliver the highest standard of care in a safe, nurturing environment. Join us in supporting your child’s health and happiness.

Monadnock Regional Pediatrics