Clinical tip: A painless way to remove ticks
Before removing the head of a tick (usually left behind during an unsuccessful removal attempt by a parent), I apply topical LET (lidocaine, epinephrine, and tetracaine) gel. Then I wait 10 to 15 minutes, the same as I would before placing sutures. As the topical anesthetic works, the remaining portion of the tick often is pushed out of the skin. If that doesn't happen, I use a #11 surgical blade to gently scrape away the tick's remains. Even if I have to dig a bit to remove fragments of the tick, the topical anesthetic makes the process more comfortable for the child.
Mark Francis, MD
Groton, Mass.
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Comparison of teen- and parent-reported estimates of social and emotional support, 2021 to 2022
July 23rd 2024The investigative team noted that teenagers with emotional and social support are better off to handle stressors such as biological and social transition, and are less likely to experience a variety of adverse physical and mental health outcomes.
