Winter Hide Ticks can lurk in Christmas trees

So avoid ticks in the Christmas tree

In Germany, the Christmas tree is set up in most families on Christmas Eve. However, some do not want to wait so long and decorate the tree already in the Advent season. Many people do not think that ticks can lurk in the trees. To protect yourself from the dangerous pathogens, some tips should be followed.

Bring disease carriers into the apartment with the Christmas tree

Some people think that ticks can only be dangerous in the spring and summer, but the small bloodsuckers are - even at high temperatures - even in the winter months active. The animals can transmit dangerous infectious diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) or Lyme disease. What many people do not think: With the Christmas tree you can bring the disease carriers in your own living room. Some tips can help to protect yourself from the animals.

With ticks you expect actually in the summer in the forest. But even in the Christmas tree lurking the little bloodsucker. Some tips help celebrate Christmas without ticks. (Image: emer / fotolia.com)

Ticks are also active in cool temperatures

If you bring your Christmas tree into the apartment, you should remember that ticks could have hidden in it - provided it was not too cold before.

The little bloodsuckers get active when temperatures reach seven degrees or higher for a few days.

At room temperature, the animals can be "woken up" again from their hibernation. This can be dangerous, since ticks are known as disease carriers.

TBE can be fatal in extreme cases

Of the various tick-borne diseases, TBE is considered one of the most dangerous. It occurs only in certain risk areas of Germany.

Especially in older people, the disease can be difficult. About one third of the infected people have symptoms of illness.

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. However, vaccination can protect against infection.

Lyme disease occurs nationwide

In addition to TBE, ticks can also transmit Lyme disease. This disease caused by bacteria occurs in all parts of Germany.

Symptoms may include redness, fever, muscle and headache, to paralysis. Some complaints can occur only after months.

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

There is no vaccine against the disease. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.

Celebrate Christmas without ticks

The risk of infection by ticks, which are brought into the house with the Christmas tree, however, is low. Finally, the animals need to survive a high humidity, which is not given in most apartments.

But if you want to make sure that Christmas takes place without the risk of ticks, you should take some simple precautions:

So you should shake the tree properly before you bring it into the house. This could drop possible ticks.

In addition, it is advisable to wear bright clothing when decorating, on which the animals are easier to recognize. Also, a bright cloth under the tree is recommended.

When the Christmas tree is ready decorated, you should thoroughly search the body for possible tick bites.

If you notice ticks on the body, you should quickly remove them with tweezers. It is important not to squeeze the blood bag as it may cause infectious saliva or bowel contents to enter the person's bloodstream.

According to experts, you do not have to go to the doctor after every tick bite. The risk of contracting Lyme disease or TBE is low overall.

Anyone who notices after the bite of a tick, however, that a skin redness occurs at the injection site, should immediately go to the doctor. Because this is an indication of Lyme disease. Then a treatment with antibiotics is required. (Ad)