Advice Safely remove crawling ticks with adhesive tape

After an outing, adults and children should thoroughly check for ticks. The small spider-like animals prefer to loll in the high grass or bushes. If a host - human or animal - within reach of the tick can fall on him and sucks for their blood meal. This is not dangerous at first, however, the small bloodsuckers can transmit Borrelia and other pathogens via their saliva. If parents discover a tick with their children, they should therefore remove the animal as quickly as possible, as informed by the Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ).

Ticks should be removed quickly because of the risk of infection
If the tick still crawls on the skin or clothes, tape can help catch it. However, if the animal has already sucked in, the tick should be grasped as close as possible to the skin with a pointed L-shaped forceps and pulled out against the direction of the line. In children, the bloodsucker often settle on the hairline on the head. In adults, it is the warm-moist parts of the body such as the inside of the knee joints, the groin and the genital area. When removing the ticks, it is important not to squeeze the blood bag, as it may cause infectious saliva or intestinal contents in the bloodstream of the person concerned, informs the BVKJ.

Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and Early Summer Meningo Encephalitis (TBE)
The most dreaded illnesses that can be caused by tick bites include Lyme disease and early-summer Meningo encephalitis (TBE). While a vaccine is available against TBE, it is only possible to protect yourself from Lyme disease by a thorough search after an outdoor stay. But even then, a tick may have transmitted the pathogens.

Parents should note the day they spot the tick on their child. Also, the residence time of the animal in the skin is important. If the child experiences a fever, headache, or redness around the bite, parents should seek out a pediatrician for possible Lyme disease. Treatment is with antibiotics and is usually successful if done on time. If a Lyme disease remains untreated, joint complaints and nerve paralysis can be one of the long-term consequences.

Vaccination against TBE
The infectious disease FSME can be associated with inflammation of the meninges, brain and spinal cord and cause severe damage to health damage such as paralysis. Since there is no causal therapy for TBE - only individual symptoms can be alleviated with medication - experts advise people who live in the risk areas and stay outdoors to vaccinate against the disease. Tourists and commuters should also consider vaccination if they are traveling in the risky areas of nature. (ag): Tamara Hoffmann / pixelio.de