About your visit
We have examined you and have ascertained that you have been bitten by a tick. The tick bite has left a small wound. We have cleaned the site of the bite with soap and water. If you have symptoms of Lyme disease, you will have been provided with antibiotics.
When you get home
If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease, contact your general practitioner
A tick can transfer the bacterium Borrellia burgdorferi to humans. It must be treated with antibiotics. Call your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if you experience the following within six months after the bite:
- fever
- a circular red skin rash around the site of the tick bite. The rash expands gradually while becoming lighter in the middle.
- prolonged headaches
- decreased appetite
- fatigue
- flu-like symptoms
- shooting pains in both arms
- paralysis on one side of your face.
The bite may become infected
Be vigilant of infection in and around the site of the bite. Call your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if you experience the following:
- heat, swelling and redness around the site of the bite
- red stripes on the skin extending from the site of the bite
- a thick, yellow discharge from the wound or in it
- bad odour from wound
Swelling and redness around the site of the bite
It is normal for skin to become red and swollen in a 1 cm area around the bite. This is because the skin is reacting to the saliva of the tick. It does not require treatment and these symptoms will disappear after a few days.
If it happens again
Remove the tick yourself and clean the bite
If you are bitten by a tick again, you can remove it yourself. Use a pair of tweezers, a tick removal tool (from the pharmacy), or your nails if nothing else is available. Clean the bite area with soap and water. The head of the tick may remain, it will fall off within a few days and is not dangerous.
Worth knowing
Your personal data
The Capital Region of Denmark uses the personal data you share with us when you make an enquiry. You can read more about how we use your data and your rights on our website: www.regionh.dk/hp9