With the arrival of may we seek to reunite with nature, to relax at the cottage or just to be outdoors.
But here among the trees, bushes and in thick grass we sometimes face the invisible danger – a little tick can bring big trouble.
When it bites it can penetrate deeply under the skin, which in itself is unpleasant, but it is also the fact that ticks carry several infectious diseases. One of them is Lyme disease (Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis).
Which places chooses to “attack” the parasite?
Often the scalp, neck, chest, but he can move to other parts of the body. After some time around the bite, itching, burning and a characteristic feature of the disease is a red spot (erythema) that gradually increases in size (up to 60 cm in diameter), the outer edge is lifted and becomes tinged with red, and the Central part of the spot fades. This is the beginnings of a fairly serious illness with damage to the locomotor apparatus, cardiovascular and nervous system. Possible long-term disability and disability.
How to protect from ticks?
When visiting green areas to adhere to the middle of trails, wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks, use headwear. And: mites well deter a variety of insect repellents that are sold in the pharmacy. Do not be lazy to apply the gel on the exposed areas of the body, clothing, bags. After returning home, carefully inspect not only himself, but also collected flowers, animals returning from a walk.
How to remove a tick?
In order to remove the stuck tick, it is necessary to have a certain skill.
To remove the tick, you can use:
is a special puller is a hook, similar to a curved two-pronged fork. A tick is inserted between the teeth, and then gets out. In General, remove the tick you can even usual tweezers or a surgical clamp, but the special adaptation has the advantage – the body of the tick is squeezed, thereby reducing the risk of Contracting tick-borne infections.
– with your fingers – this method is less secure, but if not improvised, to remove the tick it is possible and with his bare hands.
– the thread – it is advisable to use silk thread, but you can take any other, as long as it was durable.
How to remove embedded the tick?
1. Grab the tick with tweezers or wrapped in clean gauze with your fingers as close to its oral device and, keeping strictly perpendicular to the surface of the bite, turning the body of the tick round an axis, remove it from the skin.
If you use thread, strong string tied in a knot, as close as possible to the proboscis of the tick, then the tick is removed, slowly rocking and pulling it up.
2. A sting place to disinfect any suitable means (70% alcohol, 5% iodine, Cologne, etc.);
3. After removing the tick should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;
4. In the case of the separation of the head or proboscis of the tick (accidentally or during its removal), the skin is black point that you want to process 5% iodine. Head or proboscis should fall out.
If during the removal under the skin remained the head of the tick, it should definitely pull out. For this operation, first treat the affected area of skin with alcohol. Then calcined in the fire needle and also ethanol. Very carefully remove with a needle head so as to remove the splinter.
The head of the tick to remove from the wound is necessary, because in the salivary glands of the tick is the main concentration of the virus.
5. To go to the doctor it desirable to do so, as according to statistics, on average 1 out of 10 ticks is infectious, and appearance of infected and not infected ticks do not differ.
Impossible!
Take the tick with bare fingers.
Make sudden movements – tick burst.
Use oil – it will hurt to pull the tick and clog the breathing holes of the tick and the tick will die and stay in the skin.
To donate blood immediately after a tick bite – the tests will show nothing.
If you are not sure that you will be able to remove the tick yourself, or attempt to retrieve were unsuccessful, you should contact the health care facility.
Medical advice
As experts on the appetite of leeches are not affected by time of day and weather, although it is noticed that in extreme heat they bite less often and in damp weather the number of “attacks” increases.
“To say that ticks are found only in certain plants and live in certain trees is not necessary, because during the day they are ways to overcome the vast distance. Although most often these insects are on the edge of the forest, in plantations and adjacent pastures and wetland areas, green areas with undergrowth and near thickets of shrubs. Traditionally, most small bloodsuckers in the old coniferous-deciduous forests and on the edges of forest roads, in forest clearings in this area parasites usually are delayed,” said doctor Victoria Savitskaya.
According to the expert, it often happens that the ticks wait on low vegetation, and usually on the lower side of the sheet. As soon as you walk by and shake a leg the vegetation, the tick will immediately try to attack you, only question is, will you allow him to do so… Dangerous tick activity increases near stumps or roadsides.
“By the way, the assertion that ticks jump from the branches to the potential donor, is nothing more than a myth. The fact that their children and often find truth in the head, under the scalp due to the much easier – babies crawl on the grass, often play squat and climb in the bushes”, – concluded the doctor.
Of getting encephalitis after a tick bite Ukrainians the chance is very small, the disease is more common in Europe, and for our compatriots improper removal of the bloodsuckers is fraught with suppuration, wound infections, and Lyme disease, said doctor Victoria Savitskaya.
Ticks are most active in April-may and August-September, it was at this time the lovers in the forest and nature walks should be as cautious.
Many people associate ticks with encephalitis and fear this disease, like the plague, not even really knowing what it is.
“This is a serious viral disease that affects the Central nervous system and can lead to disability and even death. But residents of the capital and Kiev region can not worry, but the virus can be picked up in the Crimea, Volyn and Lviv regions. However, the risks are not very high, and take particular care when visiting green areas, parks and forests while traveling through Europe – where, alas, is a fairly common affliction,” says the doctor, Victoria Savitskaya.
In Ukraine much more difficult situation with Lyme disease.
“This disease is quite serious and leads to serious consequences, because noticing something was wrong, it is urgent to contact the experts, not to do samolechenie and make a compress as suggest some Internet resources. The disease is treated quite simply, but only on the condition that she was diagnosed, and this can only be done by specialists at the clinic and the availability of special equipment,” – said the doctor.
Another danger is the boils and irritation of the skin. If the tick is removed early and correctly, on the site of the bite may form an ulcer, as it is often the head remains under the skin, causing boils and causes the formation of ulcers. Because if you found the tick immediately and he has to have time to sink deeply under the skin, it is better to consult a specialist to remove it.
The sooner you remove the tick, the less harm it can bring, but it is important to do it properly, not experimenting with traditional methods and questionable advice, said the doctor, Valentina Wide.
Ticks are carriers of dangerous infections, and the more time he will spend in your body, the more likely it is that creates your “donor” health problems.
“Ideally, detection of parasite it is better to consult a specialist who will remove the insect, and, in the case of risk, prescribe a course of prevention. In each region of Ukraine are working around the clock the points where experts will promptly remove a tick and will provide the necessary guidance, because current year cases of Lyme disease have already exceeded last year’s figures,” – said the expert.
However, situations in life are different, and if a physician is not possible, do it yourself, shaking its body from side to side a thin tweezers or a loop of thread.
Once the bloodsucker is removed, the bite area should be generously lubricated with iodine or alcohol. If you notice that the foot or proboscis of the tick remains under the skin, disinfect a conventional needle and remove it as you would normally and remove splinters. Just remember then again to disinfect the needle and wash your hands with soap and water.
“Physicians are often faced with problems caused by Amateur people. Therefore I strongly recommend to consult specialists and do not expose your health and especially the health of their children in danger. If you pulled the tick yourself – save bug in the Bank – God forbid you need to test it for infections and viruses,” says Broad.
However, she says that one of the most incorrect and harmful advice that the doctors are fighting is not the first year is to spread the bite of the fat, or pour sunflower oil, allegedly the mite itself will come out when he can’t breathe will. Not helping, the more we will climb, while waiting for will.
“Guaranteed to protect yourself from a tick bite is impossible, but in the case of the bite is important, as soon as possible, notice of the parasite. This will reduce the risk of infection to a minimum and reduce the level of toxins that enter the blood. Need to take a shower and thoroughly to examine themselves, and then their children. Most ticks like to cling in the folds of the skin. They allocate speciesist that have produces the anasthetic properties that the bite is not felt. These places should look especially carefully – for example, behind the ear to see the bloodsucker is difficult, so be careful. And groin area, armpits better before a hike in the woods to protect. For that, you should wear long trousers and tight underwear. Instead of t-shirts and t-shirts it is better to choose a shirt with sleeves, if the weather is hot, give preference to cotton and other natural fabrics,” said doctor Victoria Savitskaya.
The expert also advised: after you came out of the woods or a Park (or other potentially dangerous places), immediately shake off your clothes (not in the apartment!) and send it to the Laundry.
“Extra protection from the bites can become modern creams and sprays against insects. Now there are a great many –they should be applied to clothing or skin. As practice shows, these funds are quite effective, but, alas, 100% guarantee will not give”, – concluded the doctor.
After his self-removal, doctors recommend at least 10-14 days to closely monitor their overall health and to constantly measure the temperature, said doctor Valentina Wide.
According to her, this year among a lot of ticks carry Lyme disease and other dangerous infections, not to mention the fact that improper removal of the drinkers you can get skin irritation and ulcers.
If you removed the tick in the first hours after he had bitten into the skin, you can almost be certain of their safety. But for the well-being, and body temperature is still worth a watch. This is especially important if you notice a tick a day later. Well, if even later, to remove it by yourself and ignore the services of doctors are explicitly prohibited.
“It is very important for at least one and a half to two weeks to continuously measure the body temperature and to examine the bite. If you notice inflammation, redness, swelling, urgently needs to see a doctor – infectious disease. Temperature is also not worth it to fight traditional means – urgently call the doctor and be sure to inform them when you are bitten by a parasite, and how exactly you removed. Complete the prescribed course of prevention or treatment,” says the doctor.
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