Whether it's an icky tick or child's tic, don't panic

How do I remove a tick?

Ticks are rather common. Kids play in the woods and with their dogs. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites and have been around a long time. So there is plenty of folklore about them.

First, there is the worry in leaving the head of the tick in the skin. I don't know of any reputable source that has scientific evidence that this is bad. A bodiless tick isn't sucking, so mostly it is a yuck factor.

Second, there is concern about several diseases: Lyme disease, tick paralysis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. All of these risks are low, and tick feeding must occur for a long time (at least 24 hours). The Lyme ticks are pretty tiny and we probably miss them. Nevertheless, I know a lot of people won't let their kids play in the woods for fear of this. I think the extraordinary benefit of getting fresh air, communing with nature and exercise is worth it.

Ticks like to burrow just under clothing lines, such as waistbands and socks. You often find them when undressing after a day outside.

Here's how to get them off: With a tweezers, get as close to the skin as possible. Gently grab the head and pull straight up, perpendicular to the skin. With gentle and sustained force, this usually works.

There is something icky about insects, so people over the years have come up with all sorts of stuff to apply to the tick such as petroleum jelly or nail polish remover. It doesn't work, and then when you have to get down to business, you've got a greasy tick that is hard to grab.

If a bull's-eye rash does develop at the bite site, contact your doctor.

Tics are small muscle spasms that occur mostly in the face. They can be in the arms and legs as well; in fact, in any part of the body. They are often noticed as throat clearings or other kinds of vocalizations. They appear in some kids as lip-licker's rash.

They are much more common then people may think. About 25% of kids at some time in their childhood get them. Boys get them about four times as frequently as girls. They tend to go away after a few months, but some kids have a tendency to have them off and on for years.

They can show up a little more under stress, so it is a good time to explore what is happening in your child's life. Mostly, they just show up mysteriously.

When parents see tics in their children, I think many of them are concerned about Tourette's syndrome, a rather dramatic condition of tics, obsessions, compulsions and the tendency to repeat what people say (this is called echolalia) or swear. The profanity is what most people associate with Tourette's, based on what they have seen on TV or heard on radio programs. Even in children with full-blown Tourette's, this is very uncommon.

Whether your child has a few mild tics or something more demonstrative, there are medications that will help. Complete elimination of tics is hard to do, and the medications have a fair number of side effects. I find that more parents are bothered by tics than the kids or their peers. The best way to treat mild tics is to just relax. They are usually temporary and usually benign.

Occasionally, medications are a cause. Stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are the most notorious, but other medications can contribute as well. Check on what you are giving your child, including over-the-counter medications.

Ticks and tics. Interesting parts of life that are seldom a big deal.