Hello. It is good that the parents noticed it in time, removed it, took the girl to the hospital, and sent the tick itself to the laboratory for research.
We often go to nature and frolic under the trees swaying from the wind. The likelihood of picking up encephalitis, which is carried by ticks, in our case increases significantly. So I decided to re-gut the Internet. I studied various forums and sites. To be honest, I was shocked by the statements of some mothers and authors. Here are some of the mistakes parents make when protecting themselves from ticks.
Refusal of vaccinations
Some mothers oppose encephalitis vaccinations. Doctors do not support such rash statements, especially if the family lives in dangerous areas where cases of infection occur most often. And this, according to Rospotrebnadzor, is 30 regions. Just think about this figure!
Therefore, if you live in Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Moscow, Pskov, Astrakhan and Kaliningrad regions (the most dangerous regions in which there is a high risk of being bitten), then you definitely need to be vaccinated 2 months before the start of the tick activity season or before the date of the expected travel. During this time, the body will develop immunity to the causative agent of encephalitis infection.
There is also an emergency vaccination (done 1-2 days before departure). It is, of course, not as effective as the one that was delivered in several months, but the risk of infection is still reduced significantly.
Not dress properly in the forest or park
If you think that you can easily spot a tick on your skin or clothing, you are deeply mistaken. An insect can "choose" a place for an attack for up to several hours, and when bitten, it secretes a special anesthetic secret. So when going to the forest or park, make sure you dress properly in advance.
Choose light-colored clothing (the parasite will be clearly visible on it) with elastic bands and cuffs (so that the tick does not get under the clothes) that will cover the skin as much as possible. Also, take care of a hat and tick repellent.
Removing a tick from the skin with a syringe
This method is known to almost everyone. It is often recommended in survival courses as well as on the Internet. However, you cannot remove a tick that has stuck into the skin with a syringe.
For those who do not know, I will tell you what this method is. The needle is removed from the syringe, the upper part is cut off so that only the piston with the tube remains. Then this tube is applied to the skin where the mite has "sucked". After that, the plunger is pulled out, and with it the parasite comes out, using the pressure formed inside the syringe.
It is worth noting that this very pressure can simply break the tick and not remove it completely from the skin. If the head remains, saliva will be released from it, in which the causative agents of encephalitis are located. Then they will penetrate into the site of the bite, and from there into the blood.
Removing the tick with sharp movements
It is also impossible to drastically rip the parasite out of the skin. So, its proboscis can be damaged, which will contribute to the penetration of the pathogen into the skin. Therefore, it is better to remove the tick with twisting movements. Clockwise, it will happen, or counterclockwise, it doesn't matter. Both methods are effective.
Squeezing out a tick
In no case should the tick be squeezed out. This can cause the parasite to rupture and cause particles to break apart and remain in the skin.
Applying cream, ointment, oil, kerosene to the site of the tick
Many people prefer to apply all sorts of oily products to the area where the tick is "pulled away from the skin". Like, this way it will be faster and safer to leave. Also, some believe that he will get out on his own, since he will have nothing to breathe.
This "grandmother's" method can lead to dangerous consequences. Yes, indeed, the tick dies when such a product is applied. However, being near death, there is a possibility that he will release all his internal contents into the bite site, which may contain the causative agent of a dangerous infection.
Discard the tick after removing it from the skin
It is impossible to throw out a tick removed from the skin. It is better to place it in a glass jar, and put a cotton swab dipped in water on the bottom. Next, the container must be taken to the laboratory to detect the presence of the causative agent of encephalitis. This must be done no later than 2 days.
Thus, you may save the lives of several more people and find out if there is a possibility of infection.
A trip to the hospital with a mite in the skin
The bacteria enter the bloodstream 36 hours after being bitten by the parasite. Pathogens are found in the tick's salivary glands, which are located in its intestines. Therefore, you need to remove the parasite from the skin as soon as possible, and only then go to the hospital. So the likelihood of contracting a dangerous infection will be reduced significantly.
Do not treat the bite site
Immediately after removing the tick, the skin should be treated with any antiseptic. This will kill the infectious agent that may be in the bloodstream after 36 hours. Therefore, the sooner the skin is treated with disinfectants, the less likely it is to develop a dangerous disease.
As an antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide, Miramistin, iodine, chlorhexidine are suitable. And even if fragments of the parasite remain in the skin, after treatment with a disinfectant, they will soon come out.
Taking antibacterial and antiviral drugs
The incubation period of encephalitis is 14 days, and borrelosis, which is also carried by ticks, is 30 days. Therefore, it makes no sense to immediately take antibacterial and antiviral drugs. Diagnostics before the end of the incubation period is also impossible.
Only after identifying the disease, the doctor will prescribe a number of strong and effective drugs aimed at combating infectious agents.
