Summer outings, picnics, gardens, playgrounds: children are quickly on the move in the grass, under bushes, or at the edge of the forest. That is exactly where ticks can be. There is no need to panic, but a quick check after returning home should be part of your summer routine.
The most important thing is to find ticks as early as possible, remove them correctly, and observe the area afterwards. Home remedies like oil, glue, or alcohol do not belong on the tick.
When should you check for ticks?
Ideally right after the trip, at the latest when changing clothes or showering. Shake out clothing, check light-colored socks and pants, and for children, check warm, protected areas of the body particularly thoroughly.
Typical areas are:
- Behind the knees
- Armpits
- Groin and hip area
- Stomach, back, and neck
- Hairline and behind the ears
- for small children also the scalp and diaper area
What helps with prevention?
- Closed shoes and socks wear when going through tall grass, forests, or bushes.
- Long, light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to see.
- Repellents use only according to package instructions; for children, pay close attention to age and compatibility.
- Change clothes after returning home and check the body.
- Keep garden paths and play areas short, if children play in their own garden often.
TBE vaccination can protect against TBE, but not against Lyme disease. Therefore, checking remains important even with vaccination. If you are unsure whether your vaccination is still up to date, it is best to clarify your vaccination status with a doctor or pharmacy.
Tick found: how to remove it correctly
- Stay calm and use fine tweezers, a tick card, or tick tongs.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible without squeezing the body hard.
- Pull it out slowly and straight. Do not treat with oil, glue, nail polish, or alcohol.
- Clean or disinfect the area.
- Note the date and body location and observe the skin over the next few weeks.
If a small remnant remains in the skin, do not poke around wildly. Clean, observe, and have it medically clarified if you are unsure.
When should you seek medical advice?
Please seek medical advice if, after a tick bite, an enlarging ring-shaped redness appears, the area seems severely inflamed, or symptoms such as fever, headache, limb pain, unusual fatigue, or neurological symptoms occur. This applies especially to children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
A small redness immediately after removal can also be a normal skin reaction. The decisive factor is whether the redness grows, migrates, or other symptoms occur.
Mini-kit for trips
- fine tweezers or tick card
- disinfectant or cleaning wipes
- small plasters
- repellent, suitable for the children's age
- sun protection and sufficient water
This fits into every travel or day bag and prevents having to improvise on the go.
Practical family routine
After the trip, first take off shoes and socks, shake out clothes, wash hands, then a quick tick check. For children, it often works better playfully: a "forest check" before dinner or before showering. The more normal the routine becomes, the less drama there is.
Caution
- Insect bites in children
- Checklist for the Travel First-Aid Kit
- Checklist for your home medicine cabinet
- Emergency Checklist for Families
- Excursions with children in Lower Austria
- 10 excursion destinations with children around Vienna
- Applying sunscreen correctly
Sources and further information
- AGES: Information on ticks and diseases
- gesundheit.gv.at: Removing ticks
- gesundheit.gv.at: Preventing tick bites
- Ministry of Social Affairs: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)
- AGES: Tick monitoring in Austria, annual report 2025
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
