From early spring to late autumn, when walking or strolling through forests and parks, you should pay particular attention to ticks. These small arachnids are dangerous because they can transmit serious diseases. The most common include Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).
Remember, after returning from a walk:
- Examine your body carefully,
- Pay attention to areas where the skin is most delicate and well supplied with blood,
- Shake out your clothes, brush your hair and take a shower.
You can be vaccinated against TBE; there is still no vaccine against Lyme disease, which is a condition that should not be ignored. Among other things, it causes inflammatory changes in the joints, chronic inflammation of the brain and meninges, paresis, paralysis of peripheral nerves, sensory disturbances, mental and memory disorders, fatigue (episodic or constant), heaviness, headaches (usually in the occipital region), and muscle pain and cramps. Therefore, it is worth knowing how to protect yourself.
Lyme infection is asymptomatic in its first phase. Visible symptoms in the form of a circular or oval red rash may appear within several weeks of the bite. These symptoms are painless and change over time until they disappear completely. Flu-like symptoms, as well as drowsiness and balance disorders, may also accompany the infection.
Any suspected infection should be discussed with a doctor. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotic therapy exclusively under specialist supervision. If the patient does not develop the typical erythema migrans rash, Lyme disease is diagnosed through a blood test.
Removing a tick as soon as possible significantly reduces the risk of possible infection. It is estimated that even if the tick was infected, removing it from the skin within 12 hours of the bite means that the number of Lyme disease spirochetes entering the human body will be too small to cause infection.
Ticks get onto our clothes or skin directly from plants. When walking through bushes, we may pick up a tick from a leaf or blade of grass, which is why appropriate clothing is important. By choosing light-colored clothing, you will spot a tick more quickly and easily; wearing a long-sleeved sweatshirt or jacket, long trousers, covered shoes and a hat or cap will make it more difficult for parasites to reach the skin.
Tick repellents provide additional protection. However, use them carefully and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging.
After returning, carefully examine your skin—including body creases, such as behind the ears or in the bends of the knees. A tick bite is painless, and this unwelcome guest may remain unnoticed on our body for several days. Brushing your hair and washing your entire body can also help remove ticks.