Everything you want and do not want to know about ticks
Health / / December 19, 2019
Misconceptions and ignorance
About ticks (wood) I have learned in 13 years and was afraid, because they only scared and no one had any useful information. The people of today are even legendary. At least one of my friends every year find themselves on the tick. Father almost every summer brought them to the birch brooms to the country and from time to time for yourself. I have never been a victim of them, did not observe any precautions dragged floral bouquets with wood, I had no idea how to look mites, and saw only after 20 years on the Internet.
I knew before: they live on birches, run fast, presumably, can jump and even fly. Zaprygivayem they top (apparently, on the birch can only jump). If the tick has dug, the bite should be lubricated with sunflower oil to tick started to choke and get out himself, but already there you are, waiting with a cotton swab. They are attracted by the bright clothes. Encephalitis or paralysis almost inevitable.
All this is true. In some hospitals, you may still be advisable to use oil. Almost any source of information - the word "impossible" without any explanation. And the biggest problem - panic that happens when someone finds a tick on yourself, knowing about it is only gossip.
Even if you believe that everything ashes you know, read this article.
Someone like mites
Various terrestrial vertebrates - birds, reptiles, mammals (and therefore us) and amphibians.
The mites feed on
Blood. Mite blood is needed on all four stages of its development after hatching from the egg. Mite can live for more than two years and if it finds a host, it will die. But he can live for two years without food. Most species prefer to change the host type at each stage, so the activity peaks of their attacks on people seasonally subside (the most dangerous times for a person - late spring and summer).
Where and how to hunt mites
They react to breath odors of animals, heat, moisture and body vibration. Some recognize the shadows. They climb on the grass or low shrubs, and there are on alert, apart front legs. Not all species are doing. They do not jump or fly, but crawl very slowly (I suspect that they can carry out a great wind, so be wary of encephalitic vortices... just kidding). Tripped over the body, hair or clothing, they begin to crawl in search of the delicate skin. Some almost immediately dig, but there is always a chance that they will crawl and look.
Deciduous forest with tall grass - the most comfortable area for them, just high and dry grass without forests - also (and Do not forget: they are transferred animals and birds, so those who breed cattle and work in the forest, are at a greater risk). They can bring home with forest and wild flowers, branches.
How to eat ticks
- Getting on the skin, they crawl from 10 minutes to two hours, and preparing for the possibility to glare (the time depends on their stage of development and type).
- Cutting through the skin of the host, they insert their proboscis. Many species produce a special cement-like substance that reliably fixes them while they are in the process. Proboscis itself may have distinctive teeth, which also helps to capture the tick.
- The saliva of ticks many contain a substance that acts as anesthetic and anti-inflammatory agent. A person or animal can not feel the bite, and the tick remains in the skin to saturation.
- They can eat for several days, slowly sucking the blood (males and females make it different times).
- After mite be satisfied, it usually falls off itself and prepares for the next stage of life.
The more dangerous tongs
The saliva of the tick may contain pathogens (viral or bacterial infection). The saliva of an infected tick is dangerous if it enters the bloodstream, is also dangerous intestinal contents. But not all ticks - carriers of the pathogen. If the host itself a carrier of some blood infections, tick it will pick up (they are able to carry up to 10 infections). borreliosis, encephalitisHemorrhagic fever - the most common. Very rarely nekipyachonoe milk of infected cows or goats ticks can be dangerous to humans.
Symptoms vary depending on how the pathogen infected tick. To understand that there was an infection, it is possible only after a period of eight days to two weeks (in very rare cases - 2-3 days). This incubation period, and it is likely to be asymptomatic.
When encephalitis virus infection after an incubation period the temperature may increase, which lasts for two to four days and sometimes reaches 39 ° C. It was at this time, the virus can be detected in the blood.
The symptoms can resemble the flu or cold: Headache and muscle aches, malaise, nausea and vomiting. With these symptoms should see a doctor immediately if you have not already done so immediately. Further may appear neurological symptoms, develop a strong inflammation of the brain. When borreliosis may be allergic rash.
The reactions of the body are different. Sometimes the immune system can deal with the virus itself, and bacterial infections - with antibiotics. If people have been ill with encephalitis, he develops a strong and long-lasting immunity.
The percentage of mortality and disability of people infected is very low. You can view Statistics. But do not neglect the different remedies.
What if the mite dug
Remove it as soon as possible. Do not panic, but do not procrastinate. I do not really want to mention it, but you can often hear the advice to consult a doctor to remove. If you are confident that the assistance would be qualified - contact her. It may take a lot of time, but time is more important.
- Prepare gauze, tweezers or paper (better to use a finely sharpened at the ends), review instructions on removing the tick. Wear gloves if available. Prepare a pot of moist paper or cotton wool (if you plan to carry a tick on the analysis).
- Try not to break the proboscis, and not to take for a tick belly (even with tweezers): you can crush it and infect wound themselves or it can "throw up" into the wound from pressure (from the outside it is not dangerous, and possibly even nothing allocated). The mite is not screwed into the skin, so just pull it, but do not remove or swing (he is tiny, and damage the metal body is very easy - it is a priority reason). If, however, a part broken off, and you can not remove the proboscis clean forceps, it is necessary to treat the wound with alcohol or iodine, and give it to heal. Raskovyrivaya wound more, you can make the situation worse, smearing liquid isolated mite.
- Wipe the wound with alcohol, iodine or wash with soap and water. Also wash your hands after with soap and water, wash the forceps. The wound heals for about a week, sometimes around the bite appears mild erythema (local reaction).
- If you do not incur a tick on the analysis, burn it or put it in alcohol (disinfectant), and then rinse the toilet.
- If you have a weakened immune system or serious immune disease, you should consult a doctor immediately to avoid the consequences.
What can be done if the mite dug
- Set fire to, lubricating oil, varnish, liquid soap and other liquids - this will cause panic among the tick, it can release more saliva, defensively and trying to get out. Most likely, he will die, and death may vomit the intestinal contents.
- To press his bare hands, throw the living.
- Wait until he crawl.
Blood after being bitten
for tests on Lyme disease and encephalitis, not earlier than 10 days. Two weeks after the tick bite for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. Antibody (of IgM) to Borrelia (Lyme borreliosis) - a month. Keep the temperature of the body, state of health and digestion.
If the site of the bite begins to appear redness, especially divergent circles of different brightness, it is necessary to hand over the analysis. Most likely, this is a reaction to Borrelia. Lyme borreliosis in the early stages is treated very quickly.
Addresses of laboratories and the prevention of tick-borne infections points in Russia can be found here.
Medication after the bite
Doctors may prescribe antibiotics when borreliosis. For suspected encephalitis in the first three days after the bite usually put immunoglobulin to maintain immunity (not Experiment with immunoglobulin at home, a severe allergic reaction may occur to him until suffocation).
analysis of ticks
Conduct an analysis of the tick can be for their own reassurance, and to make it into the statistics. It is important to know that the analysis adopted by the living mites. Do not waste your time if you do it accidentally crushed, broken, or poured some kind of liquid. Two days of the tick can be kept in a bank with a damp cotton or paper in the refrigerator. In some large cities have PCR diagnostics (Hypersensitive diagnosis of infections). If you know exactly what you will be able to apply, offer the remnants shot mite. The frozen mite may also not take the test.
Clothes, shoes, insect repellent
The ideal clothing for a trip:
- dense,
- of a smooth material
- with a small number of folds,
- light and uniform,
- covering the whole body, with tight elastic bands on the sleeves and pants,
- hood or scarf on his head.
Shoes - high shoes.
In these clothes you will look stylish. If you have enough patience, examine yourself and loved ones every two hours.
Use repellents. It is desirable that they were against ticks (see instructions carefully). This is the same type of protection, which will bring the most confidence and tranquility. Acaricides, which are applied to clothing, more toxic. Do not apply them to the skin as possible and do not use on animals. Spraying do outdoors and leave after airing clothes. Do not forget about allergiesEven if you never had it.
After visiting the forests, lakes, rivers and grassy parks examine themselves and their children. Take a shower and wash your clothes as possible (preferably hot water) if you do not use repellents. Children should inspect the armpits, head, bends the arms and legs, wrists, behind the ears and the area of the ears themselves, waist and stomach.
Dogs and cats
Animals often cling quietly ticks, especially longhaired. For dogs, there are also repellent. Vaccines are not. If you notice your dog lost activity, appetite and behaves strange, perhaps, her tick. Unfortunately, manifestations of the disease It appears late in a week or three later. If you find a tick on your pet - remove it using the same rules as that of the man. Fix anything fur around the bite to make it easier to remove the tick.
Cats are very sensitive to even repellents, so consult with your veterinarian.