SOURCE: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/accidents-and-injuries/bites-and-stings/tick-bites FETCHED: 2026-11-03 16:00 AEDT - - - - Tick bites - symptoms, treatments and prevention | healthdirect - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Skip to content Print Share # Tick bites ## Key facts - Ticks are parasites that feed on blood from animals and humans. - Tick bites are usually harmless, but sometimes they can cause an allergic reaction or serious illness. - If you have a tick, you should kill it as soon as possible by freezing it with an ether-containing product. - If you're allergic to tick bites, you should get medical attention urgently after a tick bite. - You should not squeeze, agitate or forcibly remove ticks. ## What is a tick bite? Ticks are parasites that can bite and feed on animal and human blood. Ticks are arachnids (related to spiders), with 8 legs. They can bury into your skin and scalp, and stay attached to you for up to 5 days. Tick saliva is a venom. It contains substances that are: - anaesthetics (numbing) - anticoagulants (make blood clotting more difficult) - vasodilators (widen your blood vessels) - anti-inflammatory (reduce redness, swelling and pain) - immunosuppressant (lower or stop your immune system from working properly) Some people are allergic to tick bites. It's also possible for ticks to pass on infections to you. ## What symptoms are related to tick bites? Warning: If someone near you has trouble breathing or collapses after a tick bite, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If you have an adrenaline autoinjector, administer it. Continue to follow the steps of an ASCIA allergy action plan, if one is available. If you have been bitten by a tick, you will usually notice redness, itching and swelling around the bite. Tick bites can cause a variety of illnesses. The most common are allergic reactions. ### Allergic reactions to ticks Allergic reactions to ticks can range from a mild reaction to anaphylaxis (a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction). A mild allergic reaction can appear at the site of a tick bite. This can last for several days. Symptoms of anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to a paralysis tick bite are: - difficulty breathing - swollen throat or tongue - wheeze or a cough that's there all the time - dizziness or collapse - pale and floppy (young children) CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. ## What causes tick bites? Ticks are parasites that feed on animal and human blood. Ticks can vary in size from the size of a pinhead to as large as a marble. Their size depends on the stage in their life cycle. An adult tick is about 4mm in size before a blood feed. Adult ticks live on grass and bushes. From here they move to a host, which is usually a passing animal or human. While there are over 70 different types of ticks in Australia, only 17 feed on human blood. Ticks are especially common along the east coast of Australia. In eastern Australia, most tick bites are caused by the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus . Use the tick bites infographic below to learn what to do if you see a tick on your body. Download this guide as a PDF ### View text version of infographic ## Ticks Adult tick before feeding - close up photo of an adult tick on a white background. Adult ticks measure 4 millimetres. Adult tick after feeding - photo showing same tick after feeding. Its colour has lightened and its abdomen is enlarged. Adult ticks after feeding measure 10 millimetres. ### Key facts - Tick bites are usually harmless, but can sometimes cause an allergic reaction. - You should not squeeze, agitate or forcibly remove ticks. ### What to do after visiting a known tick area - Heat clothing in drier - Search body for ticks - Check children - Check pets ### How to kill ticks - Freeze the tick with an ether-containing spray, and wait for it to drop off. - Do not try to remove ticks with tweezers. Do not remove the tick - kill it with ether-containing spay. If you are allergic to ticks or have mammalian meat allergy seek medical help. If you or someone near you has trouble breathing or collapses after a tick bite, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance . If you have access to an adrenaline autoinjector, administer it, and continue to follow the steps of an ASCIA action plan, if one is available. ## How are tick bites treated? You should kill ticks before removing them from your body. Trying to remove the tick before it's dead may cause it to inject more venom. This can cause a serious allergic reaction. ### First-aid To kill the tick safely, freeze it with an ether spray. This can be bought at a pharmacy. This should kill the tick and cause it to drop off within 5 minutes. If the tick is embedded in your skin, use permethrin cream on the tick. Once the tick is off your skin, wash the area with soap and water. If the tick does not drop off, or can't be frozen, leave it in place and get urgent medical help. The quick removal of a tick may lower your chance of becoming allergic to them. It may also lower your chance of getting a tick-borne infection or tick paralysis. Watch this video from the National Allergy Council on how to safely remove a tick (Opens in new tab) . Do not try to remove a tick using: - methylated spirits - kerosene - petroleum jelly - nail polish - oil - alcohol - a lighted match These don't work and may cause the tick to burrow deeper into your skin. You should not squeeze, twist or try to forcibly remove the tick. This makes it more likely to inject its saliva into you. ### Tick allergy If you have a tick allergy, get urgent medical help as soon as you are aware of an attached tick. Do not attempt to remove it without medical help If you are allergic to tick bites, you should always carry an adrenaline autoinjector . Tick bites should be managed according to your ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (Opens in new tab) ### Tick anaphylaxis Warning: If someone near you has trouble breathing or collapses after a tick bite, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If you have access to an adrenaline autoinjector, administer it. Follow the steps of an allergy action plan, if one is available. Tick anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It can be life-threatening. If someone you are with has an anaphylactic reaction to a tick bite, you should: - lie them down - lift their legs — this increases blood flow to their head - give an adrenaline injector (EpiPen®, Anapen®) - call 000 and explain that the reaction is life-threatening If you live alone and have tick-bite anaphylaxis symptoms: - wedge your front door open - lie down and put your feet up on a chair ## Complications of tick bites Tick bites can pass on infections causing other illnesses. These include a group of illnesses caused by the Rickettsia bacteria: - Australian spotted fever - Flinders Island spotted fever - Queensland tick typhus These infections need the tick to be attached to you for at least 24 hours. In Australia, tick paralysis is mostly seen in animals, but humans can also be affected. This is rare as the tick must be attached for 4 to 5 days to inject enough toxin. Symptoms of tick paralysis may start a few days after being bitten and include: - headaches - blurred vision - weakness - poor balance Q-fever can also be spread from ticks to humans. This does not happen often, but can happen through: - tick bites - breathing in tick faeces (poo) - other contact with ticks — such as removing ticks from pets or shearing sheep ### Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks Australian ticks are not known to carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in other parts of the world. The Australian Government does not support the diagnosis of locally acquired Lyme disease. Instead, it recognises Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT). DSCATT is the term used to describe symptoms of ongoing illness linked to a tick bite. The most common symptoms are: - fatigue - disordered thinking - sensory changes - joint pain - headache ### Mammalian meat allergy Some people become allergic to mammalian meat after a tick bite. This is called mammalian meat allergy. Some people are also allergic to mammalian milks and gelatine. Gelatine is found in food products and in some medicines. This will need to be diagnosed by an allergist or immunologist (a doctor who specialises in allergies ). If you have mammalian meat allergy, you will need to avoid eating all mammalian meats, including: - beef - goat - horse - kangaroo - lamb and mutton - pork - venison You will also need to avoid eating anything containing gelatine. Consider wearing a medical bracelet, as you might be allergic to a blood substitute that is used in emergencies. ## Can tick bites be prevented? Use these strategies to lower your chances of tick bites: Keep your skin covered in areas where there might be ticks. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and tuck it into your trousers. Tuck your trousers into your socks and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Wear light-coloured clothing to make it easier to see ticks. Use an insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus. Use an insecticide that contains permethrin on your clothes when gardening or in areas where ticks are found. Avoid bush and long grass, especially after rain. Brush your clothes and check your skin for ticks before going inside. Then place your clothes in a hot dryer for 20 minutes to kill ticks still on your clothes. You can be vaccinated against Q-fever . ## Resources and support For advice on tick bites, call the Poisons Information Hotline (Opens in new tab) on 13 11 26. Visit the Tiara (Opens in new tab) website for information about tick-induced allergies, research and awareness. Find out more about ASCIA Action Plans for anaphylaxis (Opens in new tab) . These are emergency response plans for severe allergic reactions. You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ### Sources - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergies — Tick allergy (Opens in new tab) - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy — ASCIA Action Plans and First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis (Opens in new tab) - Therapeutic Guidelines — Tick bite (Opens in new tab) - NSW Poisons Information Centre — Bites and Stings Factsheet (Opens in new tab) - Sydney Children's Hospitals Network — Tick bites (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Australian ticks and the medical problems they can cause (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Prevention of tick bites in Australia (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Management of tick bites in Australia (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Serious allergic reactions to tick bites (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Australian endemic tick-borne diseases - Australian spotted fever (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Australian endemic tick-borne diseases - Q fever (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Australian endemic tick-borne diseases - Queensland tick typhus (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — Paralysis from tick bites (Opens in new tab) - Department of Health and Aged Care — About tick bite\u2013associated illness in Australia (Opens in new tab) Find out how we develop and review our content . Last reviewed: October 2024 ## Need more information? These trusted information partners have more on this topic. General search results Results for medical professionals Top results ### Ticks Learn about tick bites, tick paralysis, tick-borne diseases, allergic reactions and prevention. Find symptoms, risks and when to seek urgent medical care. Learn more on NSW Health website ### Tick bites factsheet Ticks are parasites that feed on blood. They can spread illness and cause allergic reactions in some children. Learn more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website ### Tick allergy - Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia Updated September 2024 On this page The above animation has been shared with permission from the National Allergy Council. The above animation has been shared with permission from the National Allergy Council. Prevention of tick bites in bush areas Try to avoid going into the bush at high-risk times such as spring and summer when there are Learn more on Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia website ### Insect and Tick Allergy - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Allergic reactions to Bites and Stings, Jack Jumper Ant Allergy, Tick Allergy Learn more on ASCIA website ### Tick Allergy - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Allergic reactions to ticks range from mild, with swelling and inflammation (at the site of a tick bite), to severe (anaphylaxis). Learn more on ASCIA website ### Tick removal: First aid and prevention - myDr.com.au Freeze it; Don't squeeze it! That's the latest advice from experts to Australians who have an attached adult tick. Tick removal: First aid and prevention Learn more on myDoctor website ### Mammalian Meat and Tick Allergy - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Mammalian Meat and Tick Allergy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Learn more on ASCIA website ### Insect and Tick Allergy - Fast Facts - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) ASCIA PC FAST FACTS Insect and Tick Allergy 2023 Learn more on ASCIA website ### Bites and stings – first aid | Better Health Channel First aid information about what to do If for common bites and stings. Includes - spiders, snakes, scorpions, bees, ticks, wasps, octopus, jellyfish and other sea creatures. Learn more on Better Health Channel website ### Insect bites & stings: treatment | Raising Children Network You can treat many insect bites and stings yourself. For example, pain relief and cold packs usually work for mosquito bites, ant bites, bee stings and so on. Learn more on raisingchildren.net.au website Show more Top results ### Perform a SWOT Analysis of Your Nursing Career A SWOT analysis is a popular tool that allows you to take a deep dive into what makes you tick and how you perceive yourself. While this tool is generally used in the business world, it can actually be applied to any aspect of your life, including relationships, parenting or education. Learn more on Ausmed Education website ### Lyme Disease Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is a bacterial infection transmitted through tick bites. It is a potentially multi-systemic condition that, if left untreated, may lead to serious symptoms. Learn more on Ausmed Education website ### Understanding Malaria: Should Australians be Concerned? Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. At least 200 million people are infected with malaria every year. In 2023, there were 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide. Learn more on Ausmed Education website ### Basic First-aid for the Envenomated Person (Snakes, Spiders and Insects) Envenomation is the exposure to an animal’s toxic secretion (known as venom), generally via a bite or sting. While death due to envenomation is rare, with only 19 occurrences recorded between 2017 and 2018, envenomation can cause serious illness and requires immediate treatment. Learn more on Ausmed Education website ### Head Lice: What They Are and How to Get Rid of Them Head lice are small, wingless, biting insects that live on, breed in and feed on the human scalp. An adult louse can range from a whitish-brown to reddish-brown colour and is about 2 to 4 millimetres in length. Learn more on Ausmed Education website ### What is Dengue? Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted virus that causes dengue fever, a flu-like illness. Dengue is transmitted through a bite from two types of mosquito: the Dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Learn more on Ausmed Education website ## Search our site for - Insect Bites and Stings - Lyme Disease ## Symptom Checker Worried about your health? Select a symptom, answer some questions, get advice Start a symptom check ## Service Finder service category General practice Pharmacy Hospital Emergency department Search other services Enter suburb or postcode Use current location Find a service Back to top