Found a Tick on 8 Month Old

Hi K.

it certainly can be worrisome to find a tick on your child. thankfully, even if they bite, it doesn't always mean certain doom.

Here is a good resource for info on tick bites. I pulled this up as a precaution when my kids were attending a summer camp and spending all their time playing outside in wooded areas - the only time they were indoors is when it was raining - they were exhausted that summer! :)

http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKe...

hope this article helps put your mind at ease.

It was attatched. Well, you have to watch the site of the bite. I would also talk to you pediatrician. I brought my daughter in and they gave her two weeks of antibiotics to be safe. Talk to them about it and see what they normally do in tick situations.

Even the "nasty" stuff like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever require the tick to be embedded for over 24 hours. Chances are you noticed it long before then. As long as you got the head out I wouldn't worry.

Most ticks form the northern Illinois area are not a problem. Talk to your doctor and he should give you all the information you need.
I recommend tick repellent when playing in wooded or heavily bushed area.