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The tick is a faithful companion of all lovers of forest outings. In spring and summer, during outdoor activities, the tick is more active than ever. While a person is resting, a small bug is looking for its prey. It will not be difficult for him to get on your clothes, and from there - on the skin. Animals are carriers of ticks. Therefore, on the advice of doctors, be extremely careful when petting your beloved dog or cat walking through the thickets.
Especially many ticks are localized in thick grass. So it is easier for them to find a victim to which they can cling and drink plenty of blood. Therefore, all experts unanimously say:
Wear clothing that covers all parts of the body, but rather refrain from going to nature during the peak of activity of ticks.
By the way, this recommendation will save you from the bites of other insects, of which there are many in the forest. Mosquitoes, flies, hornets, gadflies, horseflies - you will not meet anyone in the forest! It certainly won't hurt to be careful.
Small animal or big problem?
What is really to be feared? The fact is that the bite of a small animal can turn into a big health problem. In addition to the occurrence of allergies, there is a risk of contracting the following diseases, which you should also be aware of: Encephalitis, borreliosis (or Lyme disease), ehrlichiosis - this is what doctors have to deal with after an unsuccessful trip of patients to the forest.
Good to know: Did you know that a tick is not an insect, but an animal? Biologists classify them as arachnids, like scorpions and spiders.
Symptoms of dangerous diseases
Lyme disease: fever up to 40 degrees, fever, eating disorder, sleep disturbance, brain dysfunction, memory loss. Red "rings" appear at the site of the tick bite. You can be cured with a course of antibiotics and droppers under the control of doctors. There is no vaccine for this disease.
Ehrlichiosis can be recognized more quickly, as the temperature rises instantly, trembling and tremor of the hands appear, joints hurt like with the flu. Aches in the bones and temperature should definitely alert. After a few weeks, you may experience vomiting and abdominal pain.
Encephalitis is dangerous because it paralyzes the central nervous system. A very intolerable disease, deaths are not uncommon, since there is no protocol for the treatment of this disease yet. There is a vaccination against this disease, which must be given a few months before the peak of tick activity, so that the vaccine has time to act if necessary.
Allergy symptoms after a bite
The reaction of the immune system to tick saliva entering the bloodstream is rather unpredictable. The immune system will give a signal of danger:
- the occurrence of redness and swelling;
- the appearance of a rash and itching at the site of the bite.
More serious consequences are also possible:
- difficulty breathing;
- angioedema.
Treatment
Treatment of an allergy to a tick bite begins with taking antihistamines , which are prescribed by a doctor. It must be a proven tool. Take tick removal seriously. Never use sunflower oil. The myth that the tick will come out on its own from lack of air is a grandmother's tale. Use tweezers or make a loop of thick thread, after treating the skin with an antiseptic.
After removing the tick, treat the bite site with chlorhexidine or another disinfectant. The animal should be kept alive and ideally taken to a lab. They will check for the presence or absence of the above dangerous diseases. Allergies after a tick bite should disappear in two to three days. If you observe deterioration, immediately visit a doctor.
With proper treatment, an allergy to a tick bite leaves no traces and does not recur in the future. Be careful in nature, because in addition to mites, your body can also react to plant pollen and other external factors. If you're allergic, don't forget to put antihistamines, ointments for insect bites, and repellant sprays that repel mosquitoes, ticks, and flies in your hiking backpack.
