Tick bite

Definition

Ticks belong to the arachnid genus. Ticks are called parasites because they use animals and humans to feed themselves.

• Parasites are creatures that feed on another creature (host) or use it as a habitat.
• A host is a living being that provides smaller organisms with food, for example, and gives them a habitat and protection.
  Tick ​​bites are also known as tick bites and describe the sucking act of the tick on the skin of the host.

habitat of ticks

Ticks are found everywhere in Germany and are particularly active in the months of March to October, as soon as the temperatures rise above eight degrees Celsius. In the course of climate change, ticks are increasingly causing problems, even in mild winters. Ticks live in forests, parks, hiking trails and gardens. When walking past bushes, shrubs or high grass, the parasites are stripped off and attach themselves to the human skin. They then seek the best bite site on the host’s skin to ingest their blood meal. The tick’s search for a suitable area of ​​skin can take up to an hour.

What happens when a tick bites?

After the ticks have found a suitable spot on the host’s skin, the tick bite begins. The parasites prefer protected areas such as the hairline, armpits and genital area. They tear a small wound with their so-called jaw claws and anchor themselves firmly to the bite site for the act of sucking. Before starting to eat, the ticks release a salivary secretion with anti-inflammatory and anesthetic components into the bite site. As a result, tick bites often do not hurt and sometimes go unnoticed for a long time. During the act of sucking, the tick regurgitates undigested blood components from its digestive tract, which then end up in the human wound. This can lead to the transmission of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. After the end of the blood meal, the ticks drop. The whole process can take up to ten days.

What diseases are transmitted by ticks?

Lyme disease is a dreaded bacterial infection that usually causes a red rash around the tick bite. This so-called “migratory blush” can spontaneously recede or spread further. General symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, fever, muscle and joint pain can develop over the course of the disease. Months to years after infection, complications such as heart muscle inflammation, nerve paralysis and meningitis can occur. The bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics. The longer the tick remains in the host’s skin, the higher the risk of infection with Lyme disease.
In tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)Inflammation of the brain and meninges occurs. The disease is often asymptomatic, i.e. without symptoms or symptoms. Sometimes the patients present with flu-like symptoms as well as nausea and vomiting. This can lead to neurological failures such as paralysis and impaired consciousness. There is a vaccination available that is recommended for people who are in risk areas from the age of 1. The risk areas currently include the south of Germany as well as Thuringia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony and Hesse as well as parts of Saarland and Lower Saxony.
There are also other infectious diseases that are transmitted by ticks. However, these occur very rarely, which is why they are not explained further here.
A tick bite can also cause an allergic reaction . This happens especially when the patient has already had several tick bites in the past.

How can you avoid tick bites?

• Avoid tall grass and the shortcut through the “thicket”.
• Wear long, light-colored clothing and closed-toe shoes. If necessary, tuck your pants into your socks to give the tick less surface to attack. Ticks are easier to find on light-colored clothing.
• Apply insect repellents and repellents (acaricides) to your skin and clothing if necessary. Find out beforehand whether the substances leave stains on clothing.
• After spending time outdoors, you should thoroughly check your body for ticks and tick bites. Also pay attention to hidden areas such as under the armpits, in the genital area or at the hairline.
• Check your children for ticks, as the painless tick bite in children often goes unnoticed for a long time.

How do I remove a tick from a tick bite?

If a tick is found stuck in the skin, it must be removed immediately. With just a few steps you can remove the tick yourself as quickly as possible:

• Place the tick in the jaws of the tweezers/tick card/tweezers just above the skin. The tick should be grasped by its mouthparts and not its engorged body.
• Gently pry the tick outwards while gently pulling.
• Make sure that no part of the tick remains in the small wound.
• Try not to squeeze the tick when removing it, otherwise more infectious intestinal contents will be emptied into the wound.
• Dispose of the tick in a handkerchief.
• Disinfect the area with a skin antiseptic.
• Monitor the injection site over the next few days and weeks to avoid missing a rash.
  If small residue or parts remain after removing the tick, you can consult a doctor to be on the safe side.
  If you don’t have a tool handy, you can try to remove the tick with your fingernails. You should also grab the tick very close to the skin so as not to damage the saturated body. Alternatively, the removal can also be achieved with the help of a very thin thread by placing a loop close to the skin around the tick, carefully pulling tight without squeezing the body of the tick and thereby pulling out the stuck tick.

Doctor consultation in case of tick bite

You can usually remove the tick yourself and do not need to see a doctor. However, there are some situations in which you should seek help:

• You are unable to remove the tick yourself or parts of the tick remain in the skin.
• You notice a red rash or pain at the site of the tick bite.
• You experience fatigue, headaches, nausea, and vomiting a few days to months after a tick bite.

How can Med-Healths help with a tick bite?

Have you noticed a tick bite? Have you noticed a rash around the former bite site? Our doctors can help answer your questions and check for any symptoms you may be experiencing. In addition, they can give you detailed advice on how to protect yourself from tick bites. In addition, you can upload a picture of the bite site to the Med-Healths app before your appointment, which your doctor can then assess. Our doctors can also issue you with a prescription or a referral to another specialist if necessary.