Many ticks are also active in autumn

Even in autumn, there are still many activities that you can pursue in nature. Some go in search of mushrooms, others spend the day fishing. Garden lovers start winterizing their local paradise. Children have fun raising kites or gathering colorful foliage and tree fruits for crafting. But for all the autumnal pleasures, anyone out there should remember that ticks can still be active.

Ticks lurk in many places
If you spend time outdoors in the fall, you can meet the parasite in a variety of places - even in the garden, the bloodsuckers can frolic. They prefer to stay in high grass, bushes and undergrowth. Here they wait about at knee level for potential hosts, from which they can be stripped off. Especially those who are off the beaten path or who work in bushes and flower beds when gardening, can catch a tick and be stung by it. Since the parasites are active, as long as the temperatures are above seven degrees Celsius for several consecutive days, they can still pose a risk in the autumn.

Pathogens can be transmitted
The small arachnids are often not on, also because in their saliva is an anesthetic, so you usually do not notice their sting. But since ticks can also transmit pathogens, one should take precautionary measures. "These more than 50 different pathogens include the TBE virus, which can cause diseases of the meninges and the central nervous system," explains PD Dr. med. med. Gerhard Dobler, Specialist in Microbiology, Virology and Infection Epidemiology, Head of the Department of Virology and Rickettsiology at the Institute of Microbiology of the Bundeswehr Munich. TBE disease is not causally treatable and can lead to long-term damage.

Precautionary measures also in autumn

To prevent tick bites, it helps to take precautionary measures in autumn. Those who are active outdoors should rely on long clothing. Thus, the parasite is denied access to the skin, and on bright fabrics, he can quickly discover and can be removed before he can stab. With insect repellent sprays, called repellents, the animals can be additionally kept at a distance for some time. It is also advisable to scan his body for the bloodsuckers after each visit to nature. Another precautionary measure is the vaccine, which can reduce the risk of illness to TBEs as a result of a tick bite. This vaccine is recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) for people living or staying in a TBE risk area.

Aid for the removal of ticks
If a sucking tick is discovered while searching, you can remove the arachnid yourself with various aids. With a pair of tweezers, a tick card or a tick lasso, you can grab the parasite close up and carefully pull it vertically upwards. You should be careful not to crush the rump. In an emergency, the removal also works with the fingernails. It is important that one observes the puncture site in the sequence and, if necessary, goes to the doctor if redness develops or the sting site swells up, gets hot or hurts and throbbing. By the way, the engraving log of the ZeckTag app is a good way to document the engraving in the episode.