Found a tick on DD!

[AprilShowers]

Sorry this is going to be long:

This morning DD asked me about a "bump" on her head. Sure enough, it's a tick, and I removed it with the tweasers. We've scoured ourselves looking for others. I put the dog outside until we can check her thoroughly. (I had to get to work)

Anyway, my concern is that we were camping at an Ohio State Park last week and the place was LOADED with deer! We thought it was awesome, and on one hike DD and I kicked up about 7 of them! It was a neat experience.

I am freaking out right now because deer ticks are the ones that carry Lyme disease.
As soon as I dropped that sucker down the drain, I realized that I should have saved it.

I called the Dr. office to see what else I should do, but they haven't called me back yet.

Any advice? I'm under a TON of stress right now and this is about to send me over the edge. I know I'm overreacting, but I can't seem to calm down.

 

[janey99]

It may have been hard to tell if it was already latched on and expanding, but was it a big or little tick?

If it was about the size of a birth control pill (sorry - the only comparison I could think of!) it was a dog tick, which don't carry Lyme. If it was as tiny as one of the periods in this font size, it may have been a deer tick - I found one in DS's armpit a few weeks ago and I was SHOCKED at how tiny deer ticks really are.

BTW, both Dog and Deer ticks can attach to deer.

 

[NewJersey]

Was the tick 'far along' in attaching itself to your daughter? As in was it getting under the skin? Did you have a really hard time getting it off? Was the belly large, meaning it had been sucking blood??

ETA: Have you noticed any rash forming?

 

[aunt lissa]

I just had to remove one from my stepdaughter a few weeks ago. I ended up calling the Center for Disease control. Ultimately what they told me was that lyme disease would show up w/ in 24-48 hours of being embedded. This tick was attatched just under her eye. I was freaked but she was fine. We watched her for a rash for a while but nothing.
Hope everything turns out as well w/ your dd.

 

[AprilShowers]

It was large and engorged, and left a large wound on her head. It has been there since at least Sunday since that is when we left the park.

I'm not sure why it took her so long to notice it.

It was brown and not black like I think deer ticks are.
Right now she's feeling fine.

 

[NewJersey]

The above is a dog tick. The one on the right is engorged and the left is a 'normal' dog tick. Did it resemble that?

 

[AprilShowers]

Yes, but not as engorged as the one on the right. It was more flat, and brown.

 

[jbmom]

I remember the first time I found a dog tick on ds. I freaked out, I called everyone. Now I just pull them off, make sure the head is out and flush them down the toilet. We spray our yard often but my boys go into the field and pick them up. On the dog we use frontline. I must say I've never seen one that engorged with blood, but we do a tick check before they come into the house now.

 

[NewJersey]

Yes, but not as engorged as the one on the right. It was more flat, and brown.

http://jcehrlich.com/press-releases/tick_sidebar.htm

Sorry for all the pictures, etc. Just trying to help you out to figure what it is, and I'm also bored at work since it's slow today.

The site says the deer tick is orange brown with a dark black spot near the head.

 

[C.Ann]

Sounds more like a dog tick.. Try not to worry too much.. (Easier said than done..)

 

[suzannen]

Deer ticks are VERY small and so very hard to see. And, yes, it's always best to save the ticks, but even though you didn't, relax.

If she has any telltale signs (rash, bullseye mark, etc) within the next few days, take her to the doctor. Even if she does not have any of these, but gets flu-like symptoms or becomes achy or anything else unusual within the next few weeks, take her to the doctor. They will start her on an antibiotic treatment (usually 10 days to 14 days). Lyme's disease is very common on Long Island and several family members have gotten it. But, only 1 had an initial reaction. The others all had no indication until several weeks after. They all responded very well to the antiobiotics and none has had any long term affects.

I'm sure your doctor can give you more specific symptoms to look out for.

 

[beattyfamily]

I've pulled so many off my girls, I've lost count. Sor far we've been very lucky though with no problems/symptoms.

The best advice is to pull it off with tweasers, and if you are worried save it for the doctor. If the head is imbedded, you do not have to get it out. It will come out on it's own. I've heard of people picking at it till they get the head out (which is worse for the bite) or going to the hospital to get the head out. No need. The germs are in the body, not the head.

Besides the possible rash (doesn't always appear and can takes days, weeks or a month to appear), other common symptoms of early Lyme Disease are flu-like, and include fatigue, headache, neck stiffness, jaw discomfort, pain or stiffness in muscles or joints, slight fever, swollen glands, or reddening of the eyes.

Hope this helps.

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

DD had the "bulls eye rash" on the back of her neck (which we noticed on the ferry to Block Island on vacation last summer ) ....I would keep an eye on the area where you pulled the tick out - the rash is pretty recognizable.

I would definitely let your pediatrician know, and I'm sure they'll tell you exactly what to look for. Try not to worry too much (as a pp said)!

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I would take your daughter back to the doctor to have her blood tested. I can't remember how long it takes for it to show up in the blood, but I would definitely do that to make sure she doesn't have Lyme.

I had Lyme Diease years ago. I had a tiny bite that developed a bulls-eye rash on my leg. I had to go on antibiotics for 28 days.

I went to a Lyme seminar at my local hospital and they told us that not everyone gets the rash.

I know a few adults and children that had to go on intravenous antibiotics for months because they had Lyme and didn't know it until some other symptoms started appearing.

Lyme Diease is dangerous if left untreated and can lead to permanent neurological, joint and heart problems in a person.

 

[pgsahm2]

We live in the country with woods and fields surrounding us. Ticks are a common occurence around these parts. I wouldn't worry too much. I pick ticks off my boys daily just about.

 

[Disney Doll]

It was large and engorged, and left a large wound on her head. It has been there since at least Sunday since that is when we left the park.

I'm not sure why it took her so long to notice it.

It was brown and not black like I think deer ticks are.
Right now she's feeling fine.

Deer ticks are small...like no bigger than the head of a pin.

If it was large (like pencil eraser size or bigger) and engorged, it is a regular tick, so Lyme Disease would probably not be anything to worry about. often times, deer tick are so small that people never even find them or notice them on their bodies.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

If she starts showing flu-like symptons, a rash, or a bulls eye rash please get the blood work done!

Back in the early 90's I was bitten by a tick. I developed a very itchy bug bite on the top middle of my back which I thought was a spider bite because I never saw a tick. Then I developed the bulls eye rash and some flu-like symptons. My mom rushed me to the hospital (4th of July weekend! ) where they took a blood sample. It was too early and it came back negative. They would not give me antibiotics but my mom begged for them and my pediatrician gave in.

At the time one of the top Lyme Disease research doctors had an office in the Hamptons. He confirmed the Lyme Disease and kept me on high doses of antibiotics for the entire summer. (Because of it I also developed blood poisoning which was just the icing on the cake. ) I was able to beat the Lyme Disease because we caught it so early. Unfortunately, a friend of mine was not so lucky. She is now having major problems with arthritis in her early 20's.

From what you are describing, it doesn't sound like it was a deer tick. But please keep a watch on your DD. I don't want her to go through what my friend has.

 

[bcvgal]

Don't forget they carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever too. DD woke up one night with severe headache and vomiting. Something told me it wasn't just a virus. So I took her to the ER. They did a spinal tap to rule out menegitis(sp?) It came out clear. The dr said RMSF have the same symptoms. They did an IV of antibotics. She was sick for a couple weeks. Found the bite site a couple days later. They are not to be messed with. Hope everthing comes out ok.

 

[java]

Deer ticks are really really tiny. Think head of a pin like someone else said. It would look like a tiny freckle. *we are in deer tick country. Usually the ones you see and can pick out are not Deer Ticks. Unfortunatly I can say just relax about it and wait and see- but I know that is easier said than done.

 

[mrsv98]

Make sure you keep the dates marked so you can tell the doc exactly when you found it and when you think she was first bitten. It sounds like it is too big to be a deer tick. Hope your DD is ok.