Ticks and Lyme Disease
Ticks can transmit disease and make people sick. A common illness caused by ticks in Pennsylvania is Lyme disease. Not all tick bites lead to Lyme disease. We advise that you record the date on which the tick was removed. It is recommended that you seek medical treatment from your child's doctor promptly if you notice any early signs or symptoms of illness within three (3) to thirty (30) days of the date of removal.
Some people with Lyme disease will get a bull's-eye rash. Others may have an atypical rash. Not everyone who has Lyme disease gets a rash.
Other symptoms which may occur during the early stages of Lyme disease include:
- chills
- fever
- headache
- tiredness
- stiff neck
- joint pain
- swelling
- swollen lymph nodes
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. If untreated, infection may progress to joint, heart, brain or nerve abnormalities. More information and resources on Ticks can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website, but please contact your child’s physician if there are any medical concerns.
Tick(s) removed from your child in school will be placed in a plastic bag and sent home with them. If you wish to have the tick(s) that were removed from your child tested for tick borne diseases, information on this process can be found online at www.ticklab.org.