13 minutes ago General Read 37 times
Region – Now that it’s summer again, we’re going out en masse. Relax in the woods, park or beach, or just enjoy nature. Unfortunately, ticks are also extra active during this period. A bite from this small, arachnid creature is usually harmless and virtually painless. However, when the tick is infected with a bacteria, such a bite can have major consequences for your health.
You can find ticks everywhere. In the park, the forest or at the beach, but also simply in your own garden. They hide in tall grasses and bushes, or drop from a tree to bite, and feed on the blood of mice, rabbits, birds, deer, dogs, cats, horses, and sometimes humans. Ticks are actually there all year round, but they are particularly active in the summer months. Once they are on a body, they look for warm spots or skin folds under the clothing and bite to feed. You don’t feel this, you only experience some itching. Ticks can transmit pathogens that can cause Lyme disease. This can usually be treated with antibiotics. In rare cases, a tick bite can even lead to meningitis. The sooner a tick is discovered and removed, the smaller the chance of contamination with pathogens. That is why it is good to check yourself and others after every visit to nature or greenery, and to remove any ticks found as quickly as possible and in a correct manner. Prevent a tick from being squeezed flat and do not use alcohol, iodine, soap, oil or ether, but a special tick remover. Different models are available at an outdoor shop, pharmacy or drugstore. Even after removing the tick, keep a close eye on the bitten area for a month. A red, ring-shaped spot that slowly enlarges – one of the main features of Lyme disease – often only appears after some time. Flu symptoms such as fever with muscle or joint pain can also be the result of a tick bite. If in doubt, consult your doctor.
Ticks may be everywhere, but there are several things you can do to prevent a bite. When staying outside, stay on the (walking) paths as much as possible and avoid contact with the bushes. When the weather is nice, wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt and tuck the trousers into your socks for optimum protection. Preferably wear clothing that is light in color because the critters stand out better. If it is really too hot for long clothing, use a good anti-insect spray that contains DEET, Icaridine or the oil of lemon eucalyptus to repel ticks.
2023-08-03 06:31:44
#tick #bite #prevented #cured
