A tick bite can happen unnoticed during a forest walk or time on the grass. Removing it promptly is key to minimizing health risks. Here's what experts advise watching for.
Tick Awareness Week kicks off Monday, June 22—delayed from April due to COVID-19. With warmer temperatures boosting tick populations across the Netherlands, bite risks are rising.
Read also: 'Help, I have a tick'
Ticks can attach anywhere but favor warm, hidden spots like the groin, behind the knees, armpits, ankles, behind the ears, and hairline. After a day outdoors near trees, bushes, or grass, inspect these areas carefully.
Ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria. Quicker removal lowers transmission chances, though it doesn't guarantee prevention. Always check your skin after outdoor time.
Skip alcohol, iodine, oil, or soap. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin at its head, then pull steadily and slowly. With tick-removal tools, follow package directions.
Stock your first-aid kit: order a tick remover here.
Record the bite's location and date. Watch the site and your body closely. Seek medical help immediately for an expanding red circle (not always present) or flu-like symptoms anywhere. The rash may appear elsewhere.
Check Tick Radar for nearby reports.
