Ticks are not only bloodsuckers, but also carriers of a number of infectious diseases, of which 2 diseases are registered in Belarus - tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease (Lyme - borreliosis). Tick suction usually does not cause pain and goes unnoticed. The most favorite locations for ticks are the neck, armpits, chest and groin folds. A tick that has drunk blood enlarges tenfold, taking the form of a dense gray or light ball. From the moment of the bite to the appearance of the first clinical symptoms, 30 days pass. IMPORTANT: the longer the tick is in the attached state, the greater the likelihood of infecting a person.
How should you behave in order to prevent a tick bite?
1. wear clothes that cover open areas of the body as much as possible, with long sleeves, tight cuffs, collars, trousers must be tucked into boots (a hat or headscarf is required); The tick crawls on the skin for some time before burying itself. Good protection is provided by overalls or windbreakers made of thick, smooth fabric, preferably with a hood, which prevent ticks from crawling under clothing and reaching the skin;
2. be sure to use liquids, aerosols, ointments (repellents) that repel ticks and other insects, which are applied to clothing or skin;
3. try to stay away from bushes and tall grass, as this is where ticks like to hide;
4. Every 1-2 hours of being in nature, or in the forest, carry out self-and mutual examinations, regardless of the use of anti-tick agents, pay attention to seams, pockets, folds. If you look around every hour, then almost all ticks can be detected before they bite. When examining, you need to remember that the tick can be very small in size (larva) the size of a poppy seed and be difficult to see;
5. during mutual and self-examination, you need to remember that a tick can sit not only on the body, but also on clothing;
6. when returning, carefully examine your body, special attention should be paid to the favorite places for ticks to suction: the border of the scalp, natural folds of the skin (armpits, buttocks, groin folds);
7. in your summer cottages, you must regularly remove dead wood, cut down unnecessary bushes, and mow the grass;
8. do not graze goats in the forest and areas adjacent to the forest, inspect dairy animals daily for the presence of ticks, and if they are found, remove them immediately,Eat goat milk only when boiled.
Actions to take when bitten by a tick.
If the tick does stick, you need to carefully remove it. You can remove the tick with tweezers or using regular thread. The tick is carefully pulled out by the abdomen, slightly rocked with tweezers or using a sliding loop of strong (preferably cotton) thread, draped as close to the proboscis as possible. After removing the tick, the bite site must be treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol. If iodine or alcohol is not available, rinse the bite site thoroughly with water, since some pathogenic organisms are excreted in the tick's feces when sucking blood and can later be carried from the skin into the wound.And you should definitely contact your local doctor to receive preventive treatment during the first 3 days after removing the tick!
If over the next 2 months the victim experiences weakness, malaise, fever or any skin rashes on the body, you should immediately seek medical help, focusing the attention of the attending physician on the recent tick bite.
Ticks pose a danger not only to humans, but also to animals. The most dangerous diseases for them are babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis.
When walking pets and grazing livestock, you can use repellents - repellents, ear tags, electromagnetic keychains "Anti-mite". When walking dogs, special protective clothing minimizes contact with insects. It is necessary to regularly inspect animals. After establishing the fact of tick suction, you should immediately contact a specialist to prescribe treatment or carry out preventive procedures.
There is no need to be afraid of ticks, but it is better to be vigilant and actively apply personal prevention measures while outdoors, in the forest or at your dacha.
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