What what to do if you find a tick on your body
Although the spring heat is still very unstable, cases of tick bites have increased in Ukraine. The season of their activity will last almost until the end of autumn, and the peak will be in May-June, as well as September-October.
Ticks can be found not only in nature, there are also many of them on city lawns. They do not jump on a person from a tree, do not chase after him – however, they can climb on the body when the person is resting. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine writes about this.
The danger of ticks is that they can carry pathogens of dangerous diseases, and during a bite – transfer them to their “victim”. It is about more than 150 diseases. The longer the tick stays on the body, the higher the risk of getting sick. Among them:
- tick-borne encephalitis (rare in Ukraine),
- borreliosis (Lyme disease).
How to reduce the risk of a tick bite?
Ticks often go unnoticed, because an anesthetic is released during a bite. So it is important to do everything to prevent them from biting you. To do this, you should follow simple rules:
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Refrain from walking in the forest. Remember, first of all, about the mine danger.
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If you are planning a promenade in a place where grass grows, take care to wear safe clothes: light-colored with long sleeves and pants. It is also advisable to ignore the style and tuck your pants into your socks.
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When walking, stay closer to the center of the path and do not step into the grass on either side.
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Choose and use repellents – means that repel insects. Be sure to follow the instructions for use and renew the protection periodically.
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Every two hours, examine yourself and your loved ones.
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A more thorough examination under good lighting should also be carried out after returning home.
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Take a shower.
- < p dir="ltr">Thoroughly clean and wash the clothes you wore on the walk. Do the same with things you used, such as blankets. A simple shaking will not help to get rid of the tick.
What to do if the tick is already attached?< /h4>
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First of all, DO NOT pour alcohol, oil or other substances on the tick. It needs to be pulled out as soon as possible.
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For this, you can contact the trauma center. However, if there is no doctor nearby, do it yourself. For this, you can use special tweezers sold in pharmacies or pet stores.
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After removing the tick, the bite site should be treated with an antiseptic, and the hands – wash with soap.
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If the tick has been on the body for more than 36 hours, consult a doctor for post-contact prevention of Lyme disease. For this, you will need an antibiotic, which is prescribed only by a doctor.
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It is not necessary to submit ticks for analysis!
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Monitor your condition for several weeks after the bite: if you have a fever or reddening of the skin, contact your doctor immediately.
First of all, DO NOT pour alcohol, oil or other substances on the tick. It needs to be pulled out as soon as possible.
For this, you can contact the trauma center. However, if there is no doctor nearby, do it yourself. For this, you can use special tweezers sold in pharmacies or pet stores.
After removing the tick, the bite site should be treated with an antiseptic, and the hands – wash with soap.
If the tick has been on the body for more than 36 hours, consult a doctor for post-contact prevention of Lyme disease. For this, you will need an antibiotic, which is prescribed only by a doctor.
It is not necessary to submit ticks for analysis!
< li dir="ltr">
Monitor your condition for several weeks after the bite: if you have a fever or reddening of the skin, contact your doctor immediately.
According to the Center of Public Health, in 2023, 13,467 people applied to healthcare institutions with tick bites.
What to do if you find a tick on your body