Protection against ticks is important because a tick bite can transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease. Find out here how you best protect yourself from ticks.
Ticks lurk in the countryside and can transmit a variety of pathogens through their stings. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), shield ticks in Central Europe are the most important transmitters of infections in humans. Good protection against ticks is therefore important.
There are at least 19 different types of shield ticks in Germany. However, the most common tick (ixodes ricinus) is particularly responsible for the transmission of Lyme Borrelia and TBE viruses-the pathogens of Lyme-Borreliosis and early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE).
Teck bite or tick bite? Protection through correct clothing!
Contrary to the widespread opinion, ticks do not bite, they stab. Because instead of the upper and lower jaw, they have a kind of suction apparatus (Hypostom). With this you suck the blood from the skin previously scratched with the mouth.
- Almost all ticks lurk at the knee height in the thick grass or branches. If you go into nature, you should always attract long trousers on warm days. It offers protection against that ticks claw on your skin.
- It is even better if you put your pants in your socks. So when running, the ticks cannot claw under the slipped trouser leg.
- You should also avoid sandals and T-shirts when walking in nature. Effort to protect against ticks.
Ticking time begins in mild temperatures from February
Protection against ticks is particularly important during the tick season. It usually lasts from spring to late autumn. As soon as there is the first warm sun rays in spring, the ticks also come out of the earth.
But because winter in Germany is getting milder, the insects are already hunting in February. If the temperatures remain mild in winter, the ticks can even remain active all year round. It is therefore important that you protect yourself against ticks at any time.
Ticks transmit TBE and Lyme disease
Protection against ticks serves primarily to prevent two diseases: Borreliosis and TBE (early summer meningoencephalitis).
Characteristic of a tick bite with Borreliosis pathogens is an at least five centimeter, circular reddening around the puncture site. In this case, you should immediately use medical help. According to Volker Fingerle, the head of the National Reference Center for Borrelia in Oberschleißheim near Munich, antibiotics can very efficiently kill the pathogens. However, some symptoms can continue to exist after the treatment. If the Lyme disease remains untreated, this can lead to fever, muscle pain, joint swelling and damage in the nervous system.
It is more tricky infection with TBE because most people don’t notice anything about it and the symptoms do not immediately occur. There are two phases:
- Symptoms that resemble flu and TBE cannot yet be demonstrated about ten days after the tick stitch.
- In ten to 30 percent of the infected people, symptoms then occur again within 20 days. At this point, the infection can also be proven. In rare cases, it ends fatally – in most cases, TBE can be completely healed.
Protection against ticks is particularly important in southern Germany
Ticks love warm, moist and dark places. They sit on autumn leaves, grass and branches and then claw onto vivanting beings. There are ticks all over Germany, but the ticks with TBE viruses mainly in southern Germany.
The TBE risk areas include Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg as well as some counties of Hesse, Thuringia and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as in Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony. Measures to protect against ticks are particularly important here, because in these areas up to five percent of the ticks carry the TBE pathogen. Ticks with Borreliosis bacteria occur especially in Central and southern Germany.
Discover tick stitch
After going for a walk in nature, you should always examine yourself thoroughly on ticks to protect yourself to protect yourself. You can see the black parasites particularly quickly on light clothes. But it is quite possible that despite all the precautions, they are already on the skin. Ticks choose particularly warm and moist places. Therefore, you should always search for ticks in the armpits, in the knees and in the genital area.
Once you have found one, you should remove the tick quickly. Because the longer it is in the skin, the higher the risk of diseases. Fuckettes are only partially suitable for small ticks, since you can easily crush the animal with it. Any Borreliosis pathogens can get into the wound. You can pull out the tick yourself with tick hooks (available, for example in the avocadostore), a tick loop (available from Amazon) or tick pliers (also at Amazon).
3 tick myths that can be dangerous
There are many myths around ticks and their dangers. Some widespread misunderstandings can lead to false actions that endanger health rather than contribute to protection against ticks. Here are three of the most common tick myths:
-
Storage ticks with oil, glue material or alcohol: It is not a good idea to numb the tick with oil, glue or alcohol before pulling out. This can vomit or suffocate the tick and put pathogens into the wound.
-
Ticks fall from trees: ticks are biologically speaking, but they cannot abseil from trees. They lurk in the knee -high grass or on branches.
-
After vaccination, ticks cannot harm me: you can be vaccinated against TBE, but not against Lyme disease. Therefore, despite the vaccination after every forest walk, you should take ticks and take other measures to protect against ticks.
With material of the dpa.
Revised by Philipp Multhaupt
Read more on utopia.de:
- Zeckestich: These are the symptoms for TBE and Borreliosis
- Hiking sustainably: 5 tips for the harmony of people and nature
- 7 tips for sustainable outdoor clothing & fair outdoor brands
** marked with ** or orange underlined Links to sources of supply are partially partner links: If you buy here, you will actively support Techzle\.com, because we will then receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More information.