How much time do we have to remove a tick?

ticks have become a serious problem this spring. Not only does it seem like there are more of them than in other years. There are a growing number of cases that carry human pathogenic viruses, such as the virus that causes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. In this situation, it is important not only to know how to prevent their bites, but also to understand How can we remove them?

This is what needs to be done earlier. The tick is not always a carrier of the pathogen. However, if this happens, we usually have some time before infection occurs. This was studied primarily with Lyme diseasewith the help of which it was clear that the likelihood of infection increases significantly 24–48 hours after infection.

If it is removed before the first 24 hours, it is quite possible that the disease will not occur. For other tick-borne diseases, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, the effect of time has not been sufficiently studied. But one thing is clear: the sooner you retire, the better.

What is Lyme disease?

We’ve been talking a lot about Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever lately, but until recently the only disease that came to mind when talking about ticks was Lyme disease.

This is a condition caused by bacteria Borrelia, is characterized by a rash concentrated in one area of ​​the skin, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, headache, joint stiffness, muscle pain and severe fatigue. In addition, as with other infections, there is enlarged lymph nodes.

If the disease is not treated at this first stage, more serious symptoms may appear after a few weeks, such as vision loss, irregular heartbeat and numerous pains throughout the body. It is usually not fatal, but symptoms can become chronic if left untreated. Moreover, if the immune system is very weakened, it can become complicated and lead to death. This is why it is important to remove ticks as soon as possible. It has been observed that with this disease up to 24 hours It’s very effective

Say goodbye to ticks as soon as possible

Lyme disease is not very common in Spain. The annual incidence in this country is approximately 15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite this, there are still more cases than Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic feverso it’s a good rule of thumb to keep in mind first 24 hours.

In fact, this should apply to any disease. All guidelines recommend removing ticks as soon as possible without waiting to see a doctor. Despite this, after removal it is important to monitor for possible symptoms during treatment. next 30 days. If we feel well at this time, the risk may have passed.

At the same time, if we travel out of town, it is important to carefully check our body upon returning. Especially the legs, which are in most contact with the grass, as well as other parts of the body. They especially like places where heat is concentrated, e.g. groin or armpitsso we should look at them too.

With regard to ticks, the typical rule especially applies: prevention is always better than cure.