What injection should be given after a tick bite? - briefly
A single 200 mg dose of doxycycline taken orally within 72 hours is advised for Lyme disease prophylaxis after a tick bite. If tetanus immunization is not current, a tetanus toxoid booster should be administered.
What injection should be given after a tick bite? - in detail
After a tick attachment, the primary preventive injection is the rabies vaccine administered according to the post‑exposure prophylaxis schedule. The vaccine series consists of four doses given on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 (or 28 for immunocompromised patients). Each dose is delivered intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle. In parallel, a single dose of rabies immune globulin should be infiltrated around the bite site and the remainder injected intramuscularly, provided the patient has not been previously vaccinated against rabies.
A secondary consideration is tetanus prophylaxis. If the individual’s tetanus immunization status is unknown or the last booster was administered more than ten years ago, a tetanus‑containing vaccine (Td or Tdap) is recommended in a single dose.
Antibiotic prophylaxis may be indicated when the tick bite is associated with signs of bacterial infection or in high‑risk exposures (e.g., prolonged attachment, presence of erythema). Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 10 days is the preferred regimen for preventing tick‑borne bacterial diseases such as Lyme disease and rickettsial infections.
Summary of recommended injections
- Rabies vaccine: four intramuscular doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14 (or 28).
- Rabies immune globulin: single dose, infiltrated locally and remainder intramuscularly.
- Tetanus booster (Td or Tdap): one dose if immunization is outdated or unknown.
- Doxycycline: oral administration for 10 days when bacterial prophylaxis is warranted.
Prompt administration of these injections reduces the risk of rabies, tetanus, and bacterial complications following tick exposure.