Prevention:

The first step to combat Lyme Ilness

Ticks need to feed on blood at every stage of their life cycle and feed on a wide variety of wild and domestic animals, including birds and reptiles. Transmission to humans can occur during visits to the vector’s habitat, when bird or mammalian hosts (and their associated ticks) migrate to the urban environment, or when pets bring ticks into households.

Ticks can be active the whole year

PEAK MONTHS ARE MAY TO OCTOBER

Our recommendation is to remove them as soon as possible as studies show that they can transmit Borrelia b. almost as soon as they attach themselves to our skin.

“…. These results suggest that, in cases where spirochetes are present in the salivary glands of the tick, they can be inoculated into the host during preparatory transfers of antihistamines and anticoagulants prior to the start of feeding, i.e. immediately after attachment of the tick to the host…”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278789/

They are very small and their bites are painless.

Precautions against ticks in the field

Wear light-coloured clothing with a hat, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt or T-shirt and closed shoes.

Shirt tucked into trousers
Socks over trousers.

Spray clothing (never the body) with a specific repellent (permethrin) against ticks. Not recommended for children under 2 years of age or pregnant women. Spray sleeping bags and tents.

Areas where ticks are most commonly found are forests, tall grass fields, undergrowth and among leaves on the ground.  Appropriate clothing is recommended for these areas, but ticks can also be found in city parks and gardens.

They can be carried by pets.

Adult bites and nymph bites can spread viruses and bacteria.

It is always best to walk in the middle of the trails.

Back from the field

Actions to detect Ticks

  1. Take a shower.
  2. Carefully check the whole body, looking especially carefully at: Head, armpits, back of the knees, navel, inside and outside the ears and around the waist.
  3. Ticks tend to attach themselves to areas of thinner skin.
    Remember that the bite does not hurt or become inflamed.
  4. Remember that they can be as small as a poppy seed.
  5. Do not reuse clothing without first washing it.

Do not forget to check your pet for ticks too

The way to remove ticks on pets is the same as on our bodies.

What Should I do if I find a tick on my body?

Very Important!

Never burn it or pull it. Under no circumstance pour any product

1- Tick removal with special hook

Slide the hook through the skin until the tick is inside the groove of the hook.

Gently rotate the hook on itself as shown in the picture until the tick comes out.

Use the appropriate size hook (there are 2) according to the size of the tick.

Special Hook for Tick Removal
Removing a Tick from the head

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE HOOK, USE A PAIR OF TWEEZERS.

2- Tick removal with Tweezers

The tweezers should be fine-tipped and have blunt edges.

Act as shown in the drawing with a green circle.

Hold the tick by the head, as close to the skin as possible, grasp it firmly but do not exert too much pressure, pull it out slowly while maintaining pressure.

The tick’s mouth is equipped with backward-facing “teeth”, so if the tick is not removed properly, part of the head or mouth may remain in our body where viruses and bacteria may be present.

Teeths of the Ixodes Ricinus Tick

After removal, disinfect the bite area.

Store the tick in a jar with the date written on it and freeze for 6 weeks.

If there are no symptoms within this time, discard.

In case of Having Symptoms

Flu-like, any suspicious symptoms or if Erythema migrans appears, go to a health centre or hospital, taking the tick with you so that it can be analysed.

Erythema Migrans

In case of Eyrthema migrans occurs, it will appear where the bite took place.

It is estimated that the Erythema migrans rash occurs in 30-50% of cases.

It may appear between 2 and 32 days after the bite.

It is painless and will disappear spontaneously.

Remember! Taking care of Ticks is taking care of your health