Tick Bite

Removing a tick correctly

1. Stay calm – the sooner the tick is removed, the lower the infection risk. Have a tool ready: fine-pointed tweezers, a tick removal tool, or a tick card
2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible – directly at the mouthparts, not at the engorged abdomen
3. Pull the tick out slowly and steadily straight up – not with a jerk, not with a twist
4. If parts of the mouthparts remain in the skin, there is no reason for concern: they will be expelled by the body like a splinter – don't dig around in the skin
5. Dispose of the removed tick or keep it for later identification

What does NOT belong in tick removal

1. No oil, no glue, no nail polish, no alcohol, no heat (matches)
2. Don't squeeze the tick's body – pathogens can be pushed into the wound
3. Don't twist the tick out and don't pull it with a jerk
4. Don't use a wide, blunt tweezers – it squeezes the tick; fine-pointed tweezers are better

After removal

1. Disinfect the bite site and wash your hands
2. Note the date and location of the bite – this helps the doctor with any later symptoms
3. Watch the bite site over the following weeks (marking it or taking a photo helps)
4. Watch for a spreading rash as well as flu-like symptoms or fever in the days to weeks after

When to see a doctor

1. A rash that spreads around the bite site or becomes circular (erythema migrans) – even days to weeks later
2. Flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, or joint pain after a tick bite
3. Neurological signs such as paralysis, severe neck stiffness, or confusion – have them assessed quickly
4. A bite site that doesn't heal well or becomes inflamed
5. If in doubt, especially with young children and during pregnancy, seek medical advice earlier
6. A small (under approximately 1 cm), non-growing rash that disappears on its own within hours is, by contrast, a harmless local reaction

TBE – tick-borne encephalitis

1. TBE is transmitted by a virus. There is no causal treatment – only symptoms can be relieved. That's why vaccination is so important
2. A biphasic course is typical: first flu-like symptoms, then after a symptom-free interval, some patients develop a second phase with meningitis or encephalitis
3. The FOPH recommends TBE vaccination for all persons (generally from age 3) who live in or stay in a risk area
4. The entire Switzerland is considered a risk area except for the canton of Ticino
5. The basic immunization consists of 3 vaccine doses, after which a booster is recommended approximately every 10 years

Lyme borreliosis – recognizing erythema migrans

1. Lyme borreliosis is transmitted by bacteria (Borrelia) and can be treated with antibiotics – the earlier the better
2. The hallmark symptom is erythema migrans: a rash at the bite site that expands over days and often becomes circular. It typically appears some days to weeks after the bite (around 1 to 30 days)
3. Flu-like symptoms are also possible, such as fatigue, headache, mild fever, and joint pain
4. There is no vaccine for Lyme borreliosis – prevention, rapid removal, and monitoring the bite site are all the more important

Ticks in Switzerland – numbers and season

1. Tick bites are increasing: Suva registers approximately 15,000 tick bite accidents per year among working people (2020–2024), with an upward trend
2. TBE is notifiable – approximately 200 to 500 cases are reported annually, with an upward trend (2020 around 400 cases, 2025 over 500 cases)
3. Lyme borreliosis is not notifiable – an estimated 8,000 to 15,000 people fall ill per year (FOPH estimate)
4. Ticks are active from approximately 7 to 8 °C, the season runs roughly from March to November with a peak in spring and another in autumn
5. In Switzerland, ticks are now found at altitudes of up to approximately 2,000 meters above sea level

Prevention – avoiding tick bites

1. Wear closed, body-covering clothing; long pants, socks pulled over pant legs
2. Choose light-colored clothing – ticks are more visible on it
3. Use insect repellents with proven active ingredients (DEET or Icaridin) – their effectiveness is limited, so reapply
4. After being outdoors, check your entire body – especially the knees, groin, armpits, navel, neck, and hairline; for children also check the head and hairline
5. The shorter the time the tick feeds, the lower the infection risk – so search and remove quickly

Further sources

• Guide: Home medicine kit Stock medicines and dressing material
• zecken-stich.ch Tick removal, risk map, tick app
• FOPH Questions and answers about ticks
• Suva Protection against ticks when working outdoors
• Ambulance 144 Medical emergency