Growing danger Ticks are spreading rapidly

More and more TBE cases: How to protect yourself from ticks

Ticks spread in more and more regions of Germany and also cause more illnesses. Health experts explain how to protect yourself from diseases transmitted by the small bloodsuckers.

Bloodsucking can transmit diseases

Health experts repeatedly point out the importance of protecting yourself from ticks. The little bloodsuckers have a sophisticated stinging apparatus. They can use their scissors-like mouthparts (Cheliceren) to rip open the skin of the host and use their "sting" (hypostome) to dig a pit into the tissue. The blood collecting in it then sucks off the parasite. The eight-legged can transmit various diseases such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) via their saliva or the intestine. According to experts, the disease caused by ticks increased.

Ticks can transmit diseases such as TBE and Lyme disease. Therefore, one should protect oneself from the small creepy-crawlies when staying in nature. (Image: stockWERK / fotolia.com)

Quick removal of the tick is important

For example, Hamburg-based Barmer Krankenkasse recently reported that TBE infections have continued to increase.

One who is familiar with the parasites explains what to look for when dealing with ticks.

"With every tick bite applies: The quick removal of the tick is crucial," explains dr. Frieder Schaumburg from the Institute for Medical Microbiology at the University Hospital Münster (Münster University Hospital) in a communication.

"The risk of becoming infected with borreliosis in a tick bite is significantly influenced by the duration of sucking the tick," says the expert.

It will take up to 24 hours for the Lyme disease agents to be transmitted to humans. "That's why you should thoroughly check up on ticks after an outdoor day to minimize the risk of infection," said the head of the vaccine consultation.

Diseases can lead to death if left untreated

The signs of Lyme disease include general symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, fever and nonspecific joint and muscle pain.

If the disease remains unrecognized and untreated, it can lead to chronic damage to, among other things, the heart, nerves and joints and in the worst case to death.

There is no vaccine against the disease.

Ticks can also transmit TBE viruses. You can get vaccinated against them. But according to health experts, this is often not done.

As Bavaria Minister of Health Melanie Huml recently stated: "Currently, only about a third of school-age students in Bavaria is vaccinated against FSME. Especially children between the ages of five and nine are particularly affected. Therefore, I recommend that parents have their children's vaccination checked by a pediatrician. "

"Especially those who are often in nature - such as when hiking or in their own garden - should be vaccinated," says Huml.

According to experts occur in about one third of the infected disease symptoms.

First, there are flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting and dizziness.

Some patients also develop meningitis and encephalitis with the risk of spinal cord damage. In extreme cases, the disease is fatal.

There are no drugs available against TBE itself, only the symptoms can be treated.

TBE no longer only in southern Germany

Although the bloodsuckers can carry much more pathogens in themselves, but in Germany play almost exclusively the TBE viruses and Borrelia a role.

According Schaumburg the TBE agent is "limited to the south of Germany".

"However, travelers should consider that and think about vaccination," says the microbiologist.

However, other experts point out that FSME now also represents a growing danger in northern Germany.

For example, Prof. Dr. Ute Mackenstedt, parasitologist of the University of Hohenheim in a communication on "brand new hot spots in Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin."

Protect against ticks

In order to protect itself foam Schaumburg recommends common mosquito repellent containing the ingredients DEET or Icaridin. These make humans as prey uninteresting.

In addition, long clothing should be worn, for example, during walks or walks through tall grasses.

"In the case of a tick bite, you should use a pair of fine tweezers to grip the tick as close to the mouth as possible and pull it out vertically," explains Dr. Frieder Schaumburg.

He strongly advises against turning or warming up. Instead, the wound should be disinfected and observed.

"An indication of an infection is the so-called Wanderröte. This creates a circular redness around the puncture site. This continues to spread as the infection progresses. "

Although it is a 100 percent symptom, it only occurs in half of the patients.

If you are not sure about a redness after an insect bite or bite, you can compare it with pictures of the so-called Erythema migrans on the Internet.

In case of suspicion, affected persons should visit their family doctor.

If the bacteria have attacked the nervous system, it is called neuroborreliosis. Depending on the stage of the infection, treatment with antibiotics takes between a few days and a few weeks. "As a rule, however, the Lyme disease can be treated well," said Schaumburg. (Ad)