A CONCERNED mum is urging parents to check their children for ticks after her son was bitten by one carrying Lyme disease causing bacteria.

Pauline Bowie, from Bowling, who herself was infected in 1989 but was misdiagnosed until 2018, noticed what appeared to be a tiny, black dot on her son's leg after visiting the shoreline on June 19.

A lab later discovered the parasite tested positive for borrellia burgdorferi, which means her son could potentially develop symptoms.

Pauline is now asking people to be vigilant when walking or playing in gardens or grassy areas as these environments attract the creatures.

She also says removing the ticks without squishing or suffocating them and placing them in a jar for testing is essential for monitoring the spread.

What are ticks?

Ticks are blood-sucking creatures that come from the same family as spiders and mites. Most often found in the great outdoors, there are many different species of ticks. Ticks feed on the blood of animals and during feeding they can transmit pathogens that can result in infections. Their initial bite is pain free.

What do they look like?

The tick can be as small as a pin head to as big as a pencil top with eight legs. They come in a range of colours from brown to reddish brown, to black.

Where are ticks found?

Ticks are present across the UK and can be found in dense vegetation such as woodland and grassland, though ticks can also be picked up in city parks and home gardens.

When can I get bitten?

Though most active from March through to October in the UK, ticks are present all year round and so you should look out for ticks and bites throughout the year to be safe.

How do they feed?

They feed on the blood of other animals and will feed on humans.

How can I avoid getting a tick bite?

Before leaving the house select light coloured clothing to wear. Ticks are dark in colour and can be more easily seen on light colour clothing.

Keeping your legs covered makes it harder for ticks to reach your skin.

Use insect repellent or specialist clothing, keep to paths and avoid deep vegetation. Long grass is a favourite resting spot for ticks.

Once you return from the outdoors, check your skin for ticks and brush them off clothing before they get a chance to attach.

How do you remove a tick?

Ticks should be removed as soon as possible to minimise infection risk.

The best way to remove a tick is with a tick removal tool. These tools remove ticks while keeping them intact. For removal, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.

In the absence of a tick-removal tool, pointed tweezers can be used to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible; without squeezing the tick’s body, pull the tick out without twisting, being careful to remove whole. There may be considerable resistance.

If no tools are available, fine cotton thread can be used.

Tie a single loop of thread around the tick, as close to the skin as possible, then pull upwards and outwards without twisting. Once the tick is removed, disinfect the area around the bite using antiseptic cream.

Do not try to pull the tick out with your fingers, burn the tick or cover it with creams or chemicals.

Eyebrow tweezers are NOT suitable as they risk squashing the tick’s body.

What do I do if I am bitten?

Remove the tick using a tick removal tool and disinfect the area once removed. Not all ticks carry diseases but if you are bitten, it is worth monitoring for signs of infection.

What is the link with Lyme disease?

About one in ten ticks in the UK are thought to carry diseases. When feeding, ticks can transmit pathogens that can result in tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including Lyme disease, encephalistis (TBE) and dabesiosis.

Lyme disease symptoms can vary and may include an expanding red rash, sometimes with a clear centre, headaches, a stiff neck, facial palsy, extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and disturbances of sight, hearing, co-ordination, digestive system, and sleep.

Symptoms appear on average 14 days after the bite.

At present, blood tests are carried out to detect antibodies produced by the body in response to the infection. When diagnosed and treated at an early stage, it is usually curable with antibiotics.

Find out more here.