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Tick bite

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Medgate Kids Line (billing via health insurance)
+41 58 387 78 82

Ticks live in grass and bushes. Therefore, check your child's entire body for sucking ticks after outdoor activities. Don't forget to check the armpits, back of the knees and the child's hairy head. If you find a sucking tick, you should remove it yourself as quickly as possible using tweezers, tick tweezers or a tick card from the pharmacy.

Finding and removing sucking ticks

  • Place the tweezers (or respective removal material) as close to the skin as possible to grasp the tick by the head. Pull it straight and slowly out of the skin.
  • When using tweezers or tick tweezers, proceed carefully so as not to crush the tick when removing it.
  • Sometimes the tick's stinger gets stuck in the skin. However, as long as you were able to remove the head and body of the tick, this is not a cause for concern - the stinger will be shed by itself over the next few days.
  • Do not use oil, alcohol etc. to remove the tick.
  • After removing the tick, kill it (e.g. by crushing it with a solid object - do not crush it between your fingers).
  • Disinfect the wound if possible.
  • Make a note of the date of the sting and the part of the body affected.
Remove tick
  • Testing the tick for pathogens in the laboratory is not useful and is not recommended.
  • No measures can be taken to prevent infection after a tick bite. Precautionary antibiotic treatment or vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) immediately after a tick bite is not recommended.
  • For children aged six and over, however, we recommend vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis if you live in a risk area or spend a lot of time there, but no earlier than three to four weeks after a tick bite.

Diseases transmitted by ticks

Ticks can be carriers of infectious agents. In Europe, these are tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease and is relatively rare (approx. 100-250 cases per year in Switzerland, of which less than 10 are in children under the age of 6).

  • The disease occurs more frequently in areas bordering Basel (see supplementary sheet).
  • TBE infections present themselves in 90% of cases with symptoms of a flu-like infection (cold, fever, fatigue) 1-2 weeks after the bite of an infected tick.
  • In 10-15% of these cases, involvement of the nervous system (meningitis with headache, neck stiffness) follows 1-2 weeks later.
  • TBE can only be treated symptomatically (fever reduction, painkillers) and is usually relatively mild.
  • You can be vaccinated against TBE: 3 doses within 6-12 months, booster every 10 years.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infectious disease and progresses in several stages.

  • Approximately 5 days to 2 weeks after a bite from an infected tick, a circular reddening of the skin may appear around the bite site, which gradually spreads. If the redness is larger than 2cm in diameter, it should be checked by a doctor.
  • A fever may also occur after 1-2 weeks.
  • Several weeks after the tick bite, a few cases of nervous system involvement (usually as facial paralysis) or joint inflammation also occur.
  • Lyme disease can be treated with an antibiotic.
  • There is no vaccination against Lyme disease.

Can ticks be prevented?

  • Wearing long, covering clothing can be supportive, but cannot prevent a tick bite.
  • Light-coloured clothing can make it easier to find ticks.
  • Depending on the age of your child, insect repellent can be applied to the skin as a precaution.

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If you have any questions or uncertainties, please contact your paediatrician or contact the Medgate Kids Line (billing via health insurance): +41 58 387 78 82.

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The Medgate Kids Line provides quick and uncomplicated medical advice if your child is unwell. The medical team of our partner Medgate is available to you by telephone around the clock.

058 387 78 82
(billing via health insurance)

For emergencies abroad: Call the emergency number of your health insurance company. You will find this number on your health insurance card.

More information: On the Page of the emergency ward you will find everything you need to know about behaviour in emergencies, typical childhood illnesses and waiting times.

Important emergency numbers

144 Outpatient clinic
145 Tox Info Suisse (Poisonings)
117 Police
118 Fire brigade

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University Children's Hospital Basel
Spitalstrasse 33
4056 Basel | CH

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