Ticks: How to protect yourself from annoying bloodsuckers

Created: 06/09/2022, 09:00

By: Elena Royer

Ticks can transmit tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme disease.

© dpa

Summer is tick time.

The district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen is one of the TBE risk areas.

This is how you protect yourself from disease carriers

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - They are only a few millimeters in size, mostly black or brown, and suck blood.

We're talking about ticks.

The tiny pests often cloud carefree enjoyment of nature in the summer months, because they can transmit dangerous diseases such as TBE and Lyme disease.

The viruses that trigger TBE can be transmitted by the tick when it bites

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the district is considered a TBE risk area.

But what is that anyway?

"TBE is the abbreviation for tick-borne encephalitis," explains Rüdiger Ilg, chief physician for neurology and early neurological rehabilitation.

“This is an inflammation of the brain and meninges caused by viruses.

The virus is transmitted by the tick through the bite.”

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Bad Tölz newsletter.

Two TBE cases in the past year in the district

There were two TBE cases in the district last year, but none this year, said district office spokeswoman Marlis Peischer when asked.

After the bite of a tick infected with TBE, about every third person develops signs of illness, according to Ilg.

"About one to two weeks after the sting, flu-like symptoms with fever, headache, vomiting or dizziness appear, which subside after a few days," explains the doctor.

For most of those affected, the disease is now over.

Vaccination can protect against TBE

However, around every tenth patient has a second peak of the disease after about a week with high fever, vomiting and signs of inflammation of the brain and meninges, the so-called meningoencephalitis.

"However, the majority of infections are largely asymptomatic or the second phase of the disease does not occur at all," explains Ilg.

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Vaccination can protect against TBE.

"The permanent vaccination commission at the RKI recommends this to all people who are in regions with a particularly high number of ticks," says Ilg.

These include above all Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and parts of Saxony.

In addition, everyone who spends a lot of time in nature is particularly at risk.

Ilg thinks here of dog owners, campers, cyclists, joggers as well as forest workers and employees in agriculture.

Anyone who discovers a ring-shaped reddening around the puncture site must see a doctor

The other disease that ticks can transmit is Lyme disease - an infection caused by bacteria.

Lyme disease can be easily recognized by a ring-shaped reddening around the puncture site.

"This is the so-called migratory blush," explains the chief physician.

"If this appears around the tick bite, a doctor should be consulted immediately." Lyme disease is more common in the district than TBE.

In 2021 there were 19 cases, this year by the deadline of May 20 there were already five cases, according to Marlis Peischer from the press office in the district office.

Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants when hiking

Christopher Hummel, pharmacy spokesman in the district, advises closed shoes and long trousers, which are best tucked into the socks, so that no bloodsuckers can bite themselves in the first place.

Because the mites usually lie in wait for their hosts on blades of grass and can be stripped off when they pass by.

Sprays can also protect.

"Lighter products are more suitable for small children, but sprays with chemical active ingredients are more effective overall," says Hummel, who runs pharmacies in Gaißach and Bad Heilbrunn.

Anyone who was out and about should look carefully for the little crawlies in the evening at the latest in front of the mirror or in the shower.

Pull the tick out of the skin with the tweezers

And what if someone bites you?

Hummel then advises pulling the tick out of the skin with tweezers.

There are also special tick hooks for this.

It is particularly important to take a close look at the bite site - preferably with a magnifying glass - so that no residue remains in the wound.

"Otherwise, this can lead to inflammation," says the pharmacy spokesman.

The area should then be disinfected and observed for a few days to see if a red circle forms, which indicates Lyme disease.

If this is the case, “go to the doctor immediately”.

You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.