Tick Bites and Lyme Disease: What Every Parent Should Know 

Whether your family enjoys hiking, camping, playing sports, or simply exploring the backyard, it’s important to know how to protect your child from ticks and recognize the early signs of tick-borne illness. 

The good news? Most tick-borne diseases are preventable, and early treatment is highly effective when needed. 

Where are ticks found? 

Ticks are common throughout much of the United States, especially in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest (including the Rust Belt), and along parts of the West Coast. They typically live in wooded areas, tall grass, leaf piles, and brush, but they can also be found in neighborhood parks and backyards. 

Ticks can carry several diseases, including: 

• Lyme disease  

• Babesiosis  

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever  

• Alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy that can develop after certain tick bites)  

While these illnesses sound concerning, there are simple steps families can take to reduce the risk. 

Prevention is the best protection 

Before your child heads outdoors, take a few precautions to help prevent tick bites: 

• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing 30% DEET or 20% picaridin on exposed skin, following the product directions for children.  

• Treat shoes, socks, and clothing with 0.5% permethrin, which remains effective through several washes.  

• Encourage children to stay on cleared trails whenever possible and avoid walking through tall grass or brush.  

• After spending time outside, have your child shower and perform a thorough tick check. Pay close attention to hidden areas such as behind the knees, around the waistband, under the arms, behind the ears, buttocks/groin, and along the scalp.  

What should I do if I find a tick? 

If you find a tick crawling on your child, remove it right away. 

If the tick is attached to the skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or squeezing the tick. 

Removing a tick promptly is important because many tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, typically require the tick to be attached for a period of time before transmission occurs. 

If you’re uncomfortable removing an embedded tick or have Lyme concerns after a tick bite, PM Pediatric Care can help. Our providers can safely remove the tick and determine whether your child may benefit from a preventive antibiotic to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.  Did you know that Lyme can be prevented with a single dose of an antibiotic, if given with 72 hours of a tick bite? 

When should I worry about Lyme disease? 

After a tick bite, continue to monitor the area for about 30 days. 

One of the earliest signs of Lyme disease is a flat, expanding rash that often resembles a bullseye or target. This rash is usually not itchy or painful. 

A raised, itchy bump immediately after a bite is often just a mild reaction to the bite itself and is not the classic Lyme disease rash. 

If your child develops a flat bullseye-shaped rash or begins experiencing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, or muscle aches after a tick bite, they should be evaluated promptly. 

Lyme can also cause joint swelling several months after a tick bite. 

Does my child need a Lyme disease test? 

Not always. 

Many parents are surprised to learn that Lyme disease testing is not routinely recommended immediately after a tick bite. Early blood tests can be falsely negative before the body has had time to develop antibodies. In some cases, test results can also be falsely positive. 

If your child has the classic Lyme disease rash, healthcare providers can often diagnose Lyme disease based on the rash alone and begin treatment right away—without waiting for laboratory testing. 

Testing may be recommended in certain situations, such as when a child develops a swollen joint without a recent injury, which can sometimes be a later sign of Lyme disease. 

Similarly, testing the tick itself is generally not recommended, as the results rarely change medical management and can be costly. 

When should you visit PM Pediatric Care? 

Consider bringing your child to PM Pediatric Care if: 

• You find an embedded tick and would like help removing it.  

• Your child may be eligible for preventive Lyme treatment after a tick bite.  

• A flat, bullseye-shaped rash develops.  

• Your child develops fever, fatigue, headache, or other concerning symptoms after a tick bite.  

• You have questions about whether your child’s symptoms could be related to Lyme disease.  

Our pediatric experts are here every day to help families navigate tick season with confidence. 

Enjoy the outdoors safely 

Ticks are a part of outdoor play in many parts of the country, but they don’t have to keep your family indoors. With a few simple prevention strategies, regular tick checks, and prompt medical evaluation when needed, you can help protect your child while enjoying everything the season has to offer. 

If you have questions after a tick bite or think your child may have Lyme disease, visit your nearest PM Pediatric Care location. We’re here when your family needs us most.