Tick bites and Lyme disease
The Northeast has more Lyme disease than anywhere else in the country. Most tick bites don't cause illness, but a tick attached for a day or more, or a rash or fever in the weeks after a bite, is worth having checked.
Go to the ER or call 911 if
- Facial drooping or weakness after a tick bite
- Chest pain, fainting or a racing or irregular heartbeat
- Severe headache with a stiff neck
What urgent care can usually do
- Remove a tick you can't get out cleanly
- Check a rash or symptoms after a bite
- Decide whether preventive treatment makes sense. It works best within 72 hours of removing the tick
- Testing and treatment for Lyme disease
Removing a tick at home
- Use fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the skin as you can.
- Pull straight up with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk.
- Clean the bite and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Don't use petroleum jelly, nail polish or heat to make it let go.
- Watch the area for 30 days. See a clinician for an expanding rash, fever, chills, aches or joint pain.
What to bring
- The tick, if you saved it (in a sealed bag or tape)
- When you found it and roughly how long it was attached
- Photos of any rash over several days
Nearest clinics
Sorted by distance only. Call ahead to confirm hours and services.
Other guides
General information to help you choose where to go. It isn't a diagnosis or medical advice. A clinician will decide on testing and treatment. Last reviewed October 2026. Editorial standards