It is nicknamed the “terror of walkers” and resurfaces every year in early spring. Beware of ticks, small mites responsible for Lyme disease. What are the precautions to take and what to do in the event of a bite? Europe 1 answers you.
Every year, the worry reappears. With sunny days and the return of walks in the forest, the tick is resurfacing in the lives of walkers. A small mite that is difficult to detect, the tick bites animals and people in wooded and humid areas and can be responsible for illnesses. Like the mosquito, “the tick is not the problem in itself but the various microbes that it can transmit, in particular the Borrelia bacterium which can cause the famous Lyme disease”, specifies Brigitte Milhau, doctor and health journalist. The latter causes fatigue, fever and can lead to more serious consequences on the nervous system if it is not treated.
If only 1% of tick bites are the cause of Lyme borreliosis, Public Health France counts around 50,000 cases per year, including 800 followed by hospitalization. So it is necessary to know some precautionary gestures.
A suitable outfit
To protect yourself from insect bites – and moreover not only those from ticks – it is better to wear covering clothes such as long-sleeved tops and pants, if possible close to the body. Light-colored clothes also make it easier to spot insects likely to cling. In addition, in the walk, it is necessary to favor the defined paths, in order to avoid standing too close to bushes that can shelter them.
It should also be noted that contrary to popular belief, the tick takes up residence largely in gardens. According to Inrae researchers in 2020, there were more tick bites in private green spaces than in the forest. They have also set up an application, called Citique, to locate these small mites. And as in the forest, if the vegetation is sparse and the lawn well cut, there is less risk.
If bitten, use a tick remover
“As soon as you come back from a walk, the ideal is to all inspect yourself on all the seams. But above all, if you find one, do not try to tear it off or put it to sleep with ether To limit the risks, it is best to go and buy a tick remover in the nearest pharmacy,” recalls the doctor.
A precaution not to leave the “jaw” of the insect inside the skin. Once the extraction is done, it is important to disinfect the skin and wash your hands well. To prevent infection, monitor the bite area for a month: if a red spot in the shape of a rosette has appeared, then you must consult a doctor.
Source: Europe1
I’m a journalist who covers health care news. I’ve been working in the news industry for more than 6 years. I have experience writing for print, online, and television. My work has been published by various news websites and magazines.
