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Tick bite treatment

Ticks can carry different diseases and transmit them when they bite you. Ticks can be found almost everywhere outside. Be sure to check yourself after camping, hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, a MinuteClinic provider can safely remove it. They can also prescribe treatment, if needed.

Find care

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

Walk-ins welcome — no appointment necessary!

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.

Pre-check coverage

Looking for information about tick bites? We have you covered.

What are ticks?

Ticks are small, arachnid parasites* that feed on the blood of mammals, including people. They’re found almost everywhere outdoors. Camping, gardening, hiking 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 ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. While each illness has distinct symptoms, they also have many of the same common symptoms:

  • Aches and pains
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Joint pain and/or swelling
  • Malaise
  • Rash
  • Stiff neck

Less common symptoms include the following:

  • Diarrhea
  • Facial droop
  • Nausea

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

  • Ehrlichiosis causes a red, bumpy rash that is very fine (like sandpaper) in about one third of people.
  • Lyme disease can cause a circular rash that looks like a bull’s eye. It will have 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 causes small, flat, pink, non-itchy spots on the ankles, forearms and wrists. The rash eventually spreads to the stomach and back. The bumps may go from pink to red or purple after a few days.
  • Tularemia causes an ulcer or sore, usually right at the spot where the tick bit you.

Getting help

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. They can also assess any need for antibiotics to prevent an infection and prescribe if necessary.

  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.

Frequently asked questions

Tick bites are generally harmless. The problem is that ticks can carry diseases. When they bite you, they can give you the disease.

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.

Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, 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, remove the tick immediately to prevent possible disease transmission. Place the tick in a sealed container (like a Ziploc bag) to take to a health care provider.

While a health care provider can remove the tick, immediate removal reduces the chance of the tick transferring any disease it may have.

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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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