Outdoor Fun with Risk When hiking, be sure to protect from ticks

TBE and Lyme Disease: Protect against ticks when hiking
For many Germans hiking is one of the most popular pastimes at all. However, there are also dangers in this outdoor activity. Some of them are sitting in the grass, usually go unnoticed on the human skin and suck. There is talk of ticks that can transmit dangerous diseases. Experts advise protecting themselves from the bloodsuckers and removing them as quickly as possible.

Dangers lurk while hiking
Hiking not only offers a great way to spend time in nature, but also serves health. It is gentle on the joints and lowers cardiovascular risk. But there are also dangers. Some of them lurk in grasses and bushes: Ticks are a hardly avoidable evil for hikers. Unfortunately, many ticks are traveling this year. The small bloodsuckers can sometimes transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).

Hiking is one of the most popular pastimes for Germans. The outdoor activity is healthy, but there are also dangers. Among other things, by ticks that can transmit diseases. (Image: Igor Mojzes / fotolia.com)

After an excursion search the body for ticks
There is currently no vaccine against Lyme disease. Therefore, it is particularly important to protect yourself during excursions in the countryside with sturdy shoes and long pants that the ticks ever reach the skin. And "free skin can be rubbed with tick repellents," writes the Center for Travel Medicine (CRM) in a recent release. However, there is no one hundred percent protection: sometimes the little animals will find a way. Therefore, the search of the body after a hike is of great importance. In particular, on the tick-preferred body regions such as popliteal, armpits, pubic area, navel, abdominal folds and the area behind the ears should be looked up.

Quickly remove the bloodsucker with tweezers
If one discovers one of the creepy-crawlies, it should be removed carefully with tweezers. It is important to put the tick on your head very close to the skin and not squeeze the body, otherwise secretions - possibly with pathogen - can get into the sting site. Another method is to quickly remove ticks with tape. After removal, the site should be disinfected and then kept in view. If it turns red or symptoms such as fever, headache or fatigue occur, a visit to a doctor is inevitable.

Vaccination may be useful for some people
There is a vaccine against the tick-borne encephalitis. Health experts advise some people to be vaccinated against ticks by ticks. The vaccination can make sense, among other things, if you spend more and longer in areas of TBE distribution. These areas include parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as Northeastern and Eastern Europe. From the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) there is a map for Germany with the affected areas. (Ad)