Premise
Often times we tend to associate tick bites only with Lyme disease, because it is the best known: what has been stated is not always correct. In fact, ticks can cause many other disorders, more or less serious, based on the patient's state of health, the time taken for the removal of the arachnid, the immune system of the infected subject and, of course, the type of tick.
Ticks: general information
Mistakenly called insects, ticks are chelicerated arthropods, belonging to the class of arachnids (the same class to which spiders and scorpions belong) and to the order of Ixodids. They are dark in color, rather small in size (a few millimeters), sometimes comparable to the eye The ticks have 4 pairs of legs and their body does not appear divided: in place of the head is the gnastoma (with the buccal apparatus), associated with the hypostome (small teeth useful for anchoring the arachnid to the "guest).
The life of the ticks lasts about two years, a period in which these small arthropods develop, passing through three stages of growth: larva, nymph and adult tick.
Ticks are temporary parasites that feed on blood. They live in humid, shady regions, typical of woods and mountains, with low and uncultivated vegetation. There are many animals that act as reservoirs for ticks: deer, hedgehogs, mice, rabbits, foxes, birds, squirrels, dogs and cats; sometimes, they infect humans with their bite.
Danger of tick bite
The tick bite itself is not serious. The main problem, rather, is constituted by the microorganisms that lurk in ticks: arachnids in general, and ticks in particular, are in fact considered vectors of diseases. In simple words, parasites, such as viruses or bacteria, attack ticks: the latter, greedy for blood, adhere to the skin surface of the man, thus transmitting the bacteria / virus to the host, through the sting or the bite. Most of the time, the tick bite goes unnoticed because it is painless: this represents a major limitation, especially for the diagnosis of the problem, which is often confused and uncertain.
The tick, after being bitten, can be accidentally detached: generally, the affected area appears slightly inflamed and swollen. After a few days, the inflammation expands, causing more or less annoying eruptions.
Effects
There are mainly four diseases transmitted by ticks: the best known is certainly Lyme disease (to which an entire article is dedicated), but we must certainly not forget ehrlichiosis, TBE (tick-borne meningoencephalitis) and button fever.
- Lyme disease: caused by beating Borrelia burgdorferi, which infects ticks. The latter, with the sting, transmit the parasite to the host (man). The disease is characterized by the formation of an erythematous rush - whose patch tends to expand enormously - fever, joint pain, headache and mood modulation.
- Ehrlichiosis: bacterial infection transmitted by tick bite (Riphicefalus sanguinens) with an acute course, characterized by fever, flu, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches. Sometimes, ehrlichiosis goes unnoticed.
- Tick-borne meningoencephalitis, or TBE (short for Tick Borne Encephalitis): viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It manifests itself with the typical flu symptoms sometimes associated with meningitis and / or encephalitis. When left untreated or neglected, it can have a very serious course, so much so that it can cause highly disabling and permanent consequences. It can be prevented by vaccination.
- Button fever: the culprits of this disease are particular bacteria known as Rickettsia conorii, reached man through the bite of infected ticks. It manifests itself with fever, accompanied by skin disorders such as black crusts near the affected area, spots and papules. It is also known as Indian tick typhus or Kenyan typhus, depending on where it occurs.
Preventing tick bites
In spite of the fact that ticks tend to bite humans throughout the year, in the intermediate seasons (autumn and spring) there are always many cases of infected subjects.In this regard, it is useful to pay particular attention in these periods, especially during walks in the woods and in the mountain regions, ideal places for the replication of ticks.
Among the essential precautionary rules you cannot miss a correct clothing for excursions: shorts and short shirts are not recommended, rather tight clothing and long shoes are preferable, in order to prevent any anchoring of ticks to the skin. Even light-colored clothes are included among the precautionary rules: the light color, in fact, makes it easier to highlight the possible presence of ticks.
In order to ascertain the absence of ticks on the body, at the end of the excursion, it is useful to scrupulously inspect the skin and scalp.
Clearly, pets should always be subjected to targeted treatments against ticks (vaccination), to prevent these mites from infecting humans.
When you notice that you have been bitten by the tick, it is best to remove it as soon as possible, in order to prevent the arachnid from feeding on the blood of the host; the removal of the tick must be carried out gently with the help of special tweezers, making sure not to break, tear or crush it.
Oily lotions are absolutely not recommended before the removal of the arthropod.
It is advisable, as well as absolutely essential, to consult a doctor when, after the removal of the tick, the patient notices any sign of skin redness, infection or typical flu symptoms.
tick bites in brief "
