How can I remove the tick head from my son’s scrotum?

Question

Hello doctor,

There was a tick on my son's scrotum. I took off about all of it, but the head is still stuck, and I do not want to damage him as he tries to take it off.

Will the head come out by itself?
Do I need to take him to a doctor?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Usually, a small section of the tick’s mouthparts may be left in the skin after the tick is removed, but this will not continue to spread infection. The remaining fragment usually acts like a small splinter. It will either work itself out over the next several days or will be slowly pushed out as the skin heals. The bite is in the delicate portion of the scrotum thus I would not advise to keep digging at the skin trying to remove the remaining piece as this might cause extra agony, bleeding and increase the risk of infection.

For now, you can do the following things.

Wash the area gently with soap and water.
Keep the area clean and dry.
Observe for redness, swelling, discharge, or increasing pain.
Avoid squeezing or picking at the site.

I would recommend seeing a doctor if you find the following things,

The rest is obviously visible and can be easily removed by a health care provider. The region may become red, bloated, painful, or start oozing pus.

Your son develops fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, or other symptoms in the days to weeks following the bite.

You live in an area where tick-borne illnesses are common.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.