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Depending on the infection, a person might develop symptoms such as:
Fever or chills
Headache
Unusual tiredness
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Swollen glands
Skin rash
Weakness or other neurological symptoms
These symptoms can overlap with many ordinary illnesses, which is one reason it’s important to tell a healthcare professional about a recent tick bite or significant outdoor exposure.
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Some tick-borne infections can become serious if they aren’t recognized and treated appropriately. Lyme disease, for example, can affect the joints, heart, and nervous system when untreated. Other tick-borne infections can also cause severe illness.
And here’s something important: you don’t need to wait for a classic bullseye rash before taking symptoms seriously.
A rash can occur with Lyme disease, but not everyone develops one, and different tick-borne diseases can produce different skin findings—or none at all.
Step-by-Step: Your Post-Outdoor Safety Routine
Step 1: Check Yourself Before You Settle In
After hiking, gardening, camping, walking through tall grass, or spending time in wooded or brushy areas, take a few minutes to inspect your body.
Pay particular attention to:
Behind the knees
Around the waist
Between the legs
Under the arms
Around and inside the ears
Inside the belly button
Along the hairline
On the scalp
Ticks can be surprisingly easy to miss, especially when they’re very small.
Step 2: Don’t Forget the Children
Children need the same careful inspection, particularly after outdoor play.
Parents should check areas that children may not be able to inspect themselves, including the scalp, hairline, behind the ears, under the arms, around the waist, and behind the knees.
Make it part of the routine rather than something frightening.
“Let’s do our tick check” can become as ordinary as washing hands before dinner.
Step 3: Give Your Shower Some Extra Credit
Showering soon after coming indoors can help remove unattached ticks and provides an excellent opportunity to perform a full-body check.
The CDC recommends showering soon after outdoor exposure as part of tick-bite prevention.
And don’t forget your clothing.
Ticks can hitchhike into the house on pants, shirts, jackets, backpacks, and other belongings. Check clothing and gear carefully before putting everything away.
Step 4: Inspect Your Pets
Our four-legged family members can unknowingly bring ticks into the house.
After outdoor adventures, check dogs and other pets carefully, particularly around areas where ticks can hide.
Talk with your veterinarian about appropriate tick-prevention products for your pet.
This small step can protect not only your animal companion but everyone in the household.
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Step 5: If You Find a Tick, Don’t Panic
Finding an attached tick can be alarming, but panic isn’t helpful.
The important thing is to remove it promptly.
Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward slowly and steadily.
Don’t twist, jerk, burn the tick, or cover it with substances such as petroleum jelly or nail polish. These methods aren’t recommended.
After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or an appropriate antiseptic.
If parts of the tick remain embedded and cannot be easily removed, don’t dig aggressively into the skin. The area can generally be allowed to heal while you monitor it.
What Should You Do After a Tick Bite?
This is where paying attention to your body becomes especially important.