Ticks, which are quite common all over the world, are most often encountered in regions where wild deer or sheep or cattle graze. Inept attempts at removing ticks can leave their mouthparts behind and thus a troublesome infected wound. Seek medical help if anyone is ill after a tick or mite bite, or there is an area of redness around the bite. Get any tick off as soon as you find it. Grasp it between finger and thumb as close as possible to where it is attached and pull steadily away from the skin, at right angles to the skin. Never jerk or twist the tick; just pull steadily and it will come away in one piece. If possible then flood the bite-site with diluted iodine or alcohol (whiskey, gin or local spirit). Prompt removal and sterilisation of the wound makes disease transmission less likely. If a panicking victim or parent pulls off leeches or ticks clumsily, fragments of the mouthparts may be left behind causing infection that requires antibiotic treatment. ( BACK )