What should you do and which tablets to take after a tick bite? - briefly
Immediately remove the tick with fine tweezers, clean the site, and consult a healthcare professional; if the bite occurred in a region where Lyme disease is common and within 72 hours, a short course of doxycycline is often prescribed. If prophylaxis is not indicated, monitor for fever, rash, or joint pain and seek medical evaluation if symptoms develop.
What should you do and which tablets to take after a tick bite? - in detail
Remove the tick as soon as it is noticed. Grasp the mouthparts with fine‑point tweezers, pull straight upward with steady pressure, and avoid crushing the body. Disinfect the bite site with an alcohol swab or iodine solution and wash your hands.
Assess the exposure. Note the duration of attachment (more than 24 hours increases risk), the geographic area (regions where Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, or babesiosis are endemic), and whether the tick is a known vector species. If the bite occurred in a high‑risk zone and the tick was attached for longer than a day, consider prophylaxis.
Medication options
- Doxycycline – 200 mg single dose taken orally within 72 hours of removal. Preferred for adults and children over 8 years when no contraindications exist.
- Amoxicillin – 500 mg three times daily for 10 days, used when doxycycline is contraindicated (pregnancy, allergy, children under 8 years).
- Cefuroxime axetil – 500 mg twice daily for 10 days, alternative for doxycycline intolerance in adults.
- Azithromycin – 500 mg on day 1, then 250 mg daily for four additional days; reserved for patients unable to tolerate beta‑lactams and doxycycline.
Do not start antibiotics without a medical assessment if the tick was attached for less than 24 hours, the bite occurred in a low‑risk area, or the patient shows no symptoms.
Monitor for signs of infection over the next weeks: expanding erythema, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, or fatigue. Seek medical care promptly if any of these develop, as early treatment reduces complications.
Document the date of the bite, tick removal method, and any medication taken. Keep the tick in a sealed container for species identification if later testing is required.