Tick prevention and removal for children

Outdoor play is a summer staple for children, but it can come with the threat of tick-borne illnesses.
Jamie Kondis, MD, a WashU Medicine pediatrician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, talks about four tick prevention and removal tips to keep children safe while they enjoy nature.
When camping or hiking, wear clothes that cover the body. This includes wearing long sleeves, long pants, tall socks, hats and light-colored clothing so you can easily see ticks.
Be sure to check children for ticks when you arrive home. Ticks are tiny, but usually you can see them if you look closely. Remember, ticks can attach to pets too.
Use tweezers to carefully remove the whole tick, including its head. There’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to tick removal. Don’t try to scrape them off or use a match to burn them off. You want to get the whole tick out because if the head of the tick stays in, it can still transmit certain diseases.
Using insect sprays is a great way to help prevent tick bites. Using a spray that contains no more than 1-20% of DEET is recommended.
If your child has a rash or any other symptoms that you think could be tick-related, reach out to your pediatrician. Need help finding a pediatrician? We’re here to assist. Learn more about what factors to consider when choosing a provider at www.stlouischi....
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The St. Louis Children’s Hospital KZbin station is intended as a reference and information source only. If you suspect you have a health problem, you should seek immediate care with the appropriate health care professionals. The information on this website is not a substitute for professional care, and must not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. For help finding a doctor, St. Louis Children's Hospital Answer Line may be of assistance at 314.454.KIDS (5437). The opinions expressed in these videos are those of the individual writers, not necessarily St. Louis Children's Hospital or Washington University School of Medicine. BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine assume no liability for the information contained in this website or for its use.