A new animation showing how to safely remove ticks by freezing, not squeezing, is now available on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/patients/insect-allergy-bites-and-stings  

To prevent allergic reactions to ticks it is important that ticks are NOT forcibly removed or touched. Disturbing a tick may cause more allergen-containing saliva to be injected by the tick. 

Allergic reactions to ticks range from mild, with swelling and inflammation (at the site of a tick bite), to severe (anaphylaxis). Published studies show that the safest way to remove a tick is to:

• Freeze the tick, using a product that rapidly freezes and kills the tick, and allow it to drop off; OR
• Leave the tick in place and seek medical assistance to remove the tick.

Development of this animation was funded by the National Allergy Strategy (NAS) and is a collaboration between the National Allergy Strategy, ASCIA, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) and TiARA.  

 Content created 13 April 2021