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Tick bite treatment

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Services are available at MinuteClinic (virtual care also available) and CVS Pharmacy®

Insurance and pricing

Most insurance accepted. Check your coverage or estimate the cost of your visit if you’re uninsured or prefer to pay out-of-pocket.

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Need to know more about tick bite treatment? We’ve got you covered.

What are ticks?

Ticks are small, arachnid (8-legged, like spiders) parasites that suck blood. They’re found almost everywhere outdoors. Hiking, camping, gardening and simply being outside put you at risk of a tick bite.

If you’re bitten, it’s important to remove the whole tick completely to reduce your chances of getting a tick-borne illness. The sooner the tick is removed, the lower your risk.

What symptoms can occur with tick bites?

Common illnesses that ticks can give to humans include Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Each illness has distinct symptoms, but they also cause many of the same symptoms. Symptoms of a tick bite include:

  • Aches and pains
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Facial droop
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Joint pain and/or swelling
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Stiff neck

Different diseases usually produce different types of rashes. The type of rash you get can help health care providers determine which infection you have and how to treat it. These rashes and their underlying causes can be divided as follows:

  • Ehrlichiosis causes a red, bumpy rash that is very fine (like sandpaper): It only causes a rash in about one third of people.
  • Lyme disease usually causes a circular rash that looks like a bull’s eye: It has alternating red and non-red rings or can be described as a solid circle inside one or more similarly colored rings.
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever: This causes small, flat, pink, non-itchy spots on the wrists (sometimes palms and soles of feet), forearms and ankles. The rash eventually spreads to the stomach and back. The bumps may go from pink to red or purple after a few days.
  • Tularemia: This causes an ulcer or sore, usually right at the spot where the tick bit you.

Getting help

  1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

  2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

    If you made your appointment online:
    Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

    If you made your appointment in the clinic:
    Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

    If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
    To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

  3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
  4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
  5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Tick bite causes, symptoms and treatment

Tick bites are generally harmless. In fact, you can have a tick bite and never even know it because it really does not hurt. The problem with ticks is that they carry diseases. When they bite you, they can give you the diseases that they carry.

Sometimes, these diseases can be severe and cause long-term health problems. If you get a tick bite, it’s important to be treated appropriately to make sure you do not get sick.

Tick bite prevention

Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia are the most common diseases that ticks cause, but they are not the only ones. If you have a tick bite, visit a MinuteClinic® to have the tick gently removed.

It’s best to leave the tick in place so that your MinuteClinic provider can see what kind it is (there is more than one kind of tick). Identifying the type of tick can make it easier to choose a treatment. It also allows your provider to report the tick bite to the government, which keeps track of ticks and the diseases they cause.

A MinuteClinic provider can examine your bite and discuss your symptoms and health history. If the tick is still attached to you, they can safely remove it. Your MinuteClinic provider can also assess your need for antibiotics to prevent an infection and prescribe if necessary. They can also help you prevent further tick bites.

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IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ: This material is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions. Please visit a health care provider for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local emergency department.

 

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