🚙☀️ Holiday Adventures and Tick Safety. A Practical Guide for Australian Families.

By Dr Linny Phuong, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician
Guest Contributor for Rhythm First Aid

The holiday season brings sunshine, outdoor play and well-deserved family time. Many families will spend the next few months at the beach, in the bush or simply enjoying the backyard.

As a paediatric infectious diseases physician, I often see families who feel understandably worried when they find a tick on their child. With the right information, this is a situation that can be managed safely and calmly. This guide provides simple, evidence based and Australian specific advice to help you feel prepared for the months ahead.

Where ticks live and why they matter 

Ticks in Australia are found in bushland, coastal scrub, long grass and even suburban gardens. Many live on native wildlife including bandicoots, possums and birds.
Children are more likely to come into contact with ticks during summer, when playing outdoors, especially when the weather is warm and humid. Most tick bites cause only minor local reactions. However, some can lead to allergic reactions, infections or other complications. Although serious illness is uncommon, understanding how to prevent tick bites and how to respond when they occur is important for every family.

What a tick bite can look like

Tick bites are often painless because tick saliva contains substances that numb the skin. This means a child may not feel a bite at all. A tick can look like a tiny dark speck or scab, especially when it is small.

Common early signs include:
• Redness or swelling around the bite
• Itching or discomfort
• A noticeable dark dot on the skin that does not brush away

Less common but important symptoms include:
• Worsening redness or fever
• Weakness, unsteady walking or changes in speech
• Hives, swelling of the face or throat and breathing difficulty which may indicate an allergic reaction

If any serious symptoms occur, call the Poisons Information Hotline on 13 11 26 and
seek urgent medical care.

How to reduce the risk for your child 

Preventing tick bites is easier than you might think. Here are some practical steps for families:

Clothing 👕👖👗
• Wear a wide brimmed hat
• Dress children in long sleeves and long pants when walking through bush or grass
• Choose light coloured clothing to help you spot ticks
• Tuck pants into socks for added protection

Repellent 🍋🌿
• Use insect repellent suitable for children, which varies slightly depending on the age of your child. Products containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are generally recommended.
• Consider permethrin treated clothing for high-risk areas or camping trips

Routine (daily) tick checks 📝
• After outdoor activities, check your child’s scalp, behind ears, neck, armpits, groin, waistline and behind knees
• Shake or brush off clothing before coming indoors
• Using a hot dryer over worn outdoor clothes for twenty minutes can help kill ticks

Pets 🐶🐈
• Dogs and cats can carry ticks into the home. Check pets regularly when coming into the house from outside.
• Ask your vet to make sure they are up to date with tick prevention products.

What to do if you find a tick on your child

This is the part that often causes the most anxiety for parents. The safest approach in Australia is to kill the tick where it is, then allow it to drop off naturally. This minimises the risk of the tick injecting more saliva or allergens into the skin.

If you find an adult tick
• Use an ether containing freezing spray from the pharmacy
• Hold the spray close to the tick and freeze it until it is dead. The tick will usually fall off on its own
• Clean the area with soap and water and apply antiseptic if needed
• Do not use tweezers or household items to pull the tick out. Do not squeeze it or apply oil, methylated spirits, petroleum jelly, alcohol, kerosene or heat. These don’t work and can risk the tick burrowing even deeper into the skin.

If you find a tiny larval tick (often called a seed tick)
• Remove it gently with fine forceps if you can identify it clearly
• If unsure, freeze the tick rather than pulling at it

If your child has a known tick allergy, treat this as a medical emergency and follow their anaphylaxis action plan immediately.

When to seek medical help 🩺

Please see a doctor or attend an emergency department if any of the following occur:
• Your child shows signs of an allergic reaction
• Your child becomes weak, unsteady on their feet or unusually sleepy
• The bite becomes red, painful, hot or the redness spreads
• You are unable to safely kill or remove the tick
• Your child develops fever or other symptoms after a tick bite

Most children recover quickly without complications but timely medical review is important when symptoms change or worsen.

Your holiday tick safety checklist 📝

□ Pack child safe insect repellent
□ Carry an ether containing tick freezing spray in your holiday first aid kit
□ Encourage children to wear protective clothing in bushy areas
□ Do a thorough daily tick check after outdoor play
□ Check pets regularly
□ Know your local medical centre or emergency department while travelling

Final thoughts 💭

Australian families spend much of the summer in nature, and ticks are simply one of the things we need to be mindful of. With good preparation and the right first aid knowledge, most tick encounters can be handled safely. I hope these tips help you feel ready for the holidays ahead and allow your family to enjoy the outdoors with peace of mind.

Thank you to Rhythm First Aid for inviting me to contribute to this important conversation.

Dr Linny Phuong is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician who provides comprehensive care for children with infections. Learn more about Dr Linny here And follow her on Instagram.

Useful references:
1. Healthdirect Australia. Tick Bites. Healthdirect; 2023. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/tick-bites
Accessed November 2025.

2. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)- Tick Allergy:
https://allergy.org.au/patients/insect-allergy-bites-and-stings/tick-allergy.
Accessed November 2025.

3. RCH Insect repellents- guidelines for safe use: https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Insect_repellents_guidelines_for_safe_use
Accessed November2025.

4. Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Tick Bites Factsheet. SCHN; 2022.
Available at: https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/tick-bites-factsheet
Accessed November 2025.

5. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Management of Tick Bites in Australia: Clinical Update. Canberra: Department of Health and Aged Care; 2022. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/management-of-tick-bites-in-australia_0.pdf
Accessed November 2025.

6. TIARA-Tick Induced Allergies Research & Awareness- https://www.tiara.org.au
Accessed November 2025.