Tick bites in small children
Definition:
Ticks are smaller than a pinhead and they lurk in the undergrowth along woodland paths or in damp areas waiting for suitable victims. The main season for ticks is April to July, especially when a humid summer follows a mild winter. But tick bites can even occur in the winter when the weather is mild.
Causes:
Tick bites (though they are actually stings as opposed to bites) go unnoticed and the tick continues to feed on the host’s blood until it is full. A tick bite can also transmit tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease (as well as other diseases).
Symptoms:
You will usually only notice the bite once the tick has swollen to several times its original size.
What can mum/dad do?
What can mum/dad do?Ticks should be removed immediately with the help of tweezers or a special tick remover tool without previously ‘treating’ them with chemicals or irritating them.
When should you see a doctor?
When should you see a doctor?We recommend seeing a doctor if the child has any of the following symptoms:
- redness of the skin shaped like a bull’s eye (erythema migrans in Lyme disease)
- facial paralysis
- seizures
- flu-like symptoms such as joint pain and headaches
- vomiting
- high fever
How to prevent tick bites?
Before taking a walk in the woods or through fields, it is worth applying a tick repellent spray to your clothing, shoes and skin.
After your walk, it is also worth thoroughly checking the skin.
A vaccine is available that protects against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), but not against Lyme disease. Three injections provide protection for 10 years. This vaccination is recommended for children from 6 years of age. Younger children who live near forests or in a high-risk area can be vaccinated from the age of 1. This vaccination has been recommended in Switzerland since 2019 (except in Geneva and Ticino).
