CrimeaPRESS reports:
In April and May, ixodid ticks, which are dangerous to humans and animals, become active. Travel service experts Tutu They tell you how to protect yourself and your pet from them and what actions to take if you are bitten.
Get vaccinated
Ticks are carriers of diseases, the most dangerous of which are encephalitis and borreliosis. Tick-borne encephalitis causes damage to the central nervous system, including paralysis; borreliosis can affect various organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys. There is no vaccine against borreliosis; it is treated with antibiotics, but a two-component vaccine perfectly protects against tick-borne encephalitis.
Of course, it is better to get vaccinated before the start of the tick season, but you can do it now. Urgent vaccination is also available — the second component of the vaccine is administered two weeks, not a month, after the first.
Some regions are considered to be the most dangerous for encephalitis-infected ticks. These include, for example, Siberia, the Urals and the Far East. However, remember — you can pick up a tick anywhere and at any time. Despite the fact that most people who get encephalitis recover, it is better to get vaccinated.
Don’t forget about insurance
Before traveling abroad, especially if you want to spend a lot of time outdoors, take out health insurance.
In Russia, an additional health insurance policy can also come in handy: in an emergency room or hospital, the tick will be taken for analysis, and you will most likely have to pay for this.
Be careful and wear closed shoes and clothing
The most important thing to help avoid infection is caution. Be sure to use repellents and wear light-colored, closed clothing — ticks are much more noticeable on them than on trousers or a jacket of a marsh or black color.
Take care of your pet too: ticks carry piroplasmosis, this disease is very dangerous and can be fatal. Treat your animal for parasites: contact your veterinarian, and the doctor will help you choose the appropriate drops or tablets. If your pet doesn’t mind overalls, try purchasing one: it won’t provide 100% protection against ticks, but it will still help reduce the likelihood of infection.
Many people believe that only those who enjoy camping and long outings in nature are in danger. This is wrong. You can become a victim of a tick even within the city limits or, for example, during a car trip: just move away from the road while stopping. Even if you like road trips, think: maybe a plane is more reliable, especially if you are traveling through a region dangerous from the point of view of encephalitis. Tutu analysts note that over the year the number of travelers who use the booking service has increased — it allows you to fix the price of an air ticket. They also buy tickets with the possibility of a 100% refund if the trip suddenly has to be rescheduled.
Conduct an inspection after an outing
Always inspect yourself and your loved ones after an active day at the dacha or a hike in the forest: arms, head and legs are far from the only parts of the body where a cunning tick can hide. The back of the head, neck, even the groin — be as attentive as possible and do not be lazy during the examination. A dog or cat should also be carefully examined even after a regular city walk. As soon as it happens, go straight to the doctor.
See a doctor immediately if you are bitten, and be attentive to your well-being. But don’t panic
The first thing to do if you notice a tick on yourself is to go to the hospital or emergency room. Pull out the tick yourself only as a last resort when it’s a long drive to the clinic. With clean hands, you need to turn the tick as close as possible to the bite site or, preferably, use a special device that is sold in pharmacies. According to the recommendation of Rospotrebnadzor, the tick should be taken for analysis to find out whether it is infected with something or not. Symptoms of both borreliosis and encephalitis do not appear immediately; the incubation period can take several weeks. Don’t forget to monitor your condition, listen to your body’s signals and monitor your temperature, even if the laboratory answered that the tick was not a carrier of the disease. And don’t panic if the tick is still infected with the virus. It is not a fact that you are sick. Take care of yourself and seek help at the slightest doubt. This is the case when it is better to be safe.
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