Is it possible to die from a tick bite? How to protect yourself, says the doctor

The weather is favorable for hiking and trips to nature, but you should not lose vigilance. May-June is the favorite time of ticks, carriers of various diseases. What are the dangers of these small bloodsuckers and can their bite lead to death?

Kandidát lekárskych vied, doktor klinickej laboratórnej diagnostiky SITILAB

The consequences of tick-borne encephalitis can be compared to the consequences of a stroke or severe brain injury.

How to recognize that you have been bitten by a tick

The bite site is usually red and swollen. You can guess that you have been bitten by a tick and not another insect by a characteristic spot with a wound in the middle. However, it is easy to miss the mark, especially if the tick has bitten the skin on the head or back. It is for this reason that you should thoroughly check the whole body when you get home. If the tick was a vector, after one to three weeks, symptoms such as:

• bolesť hlavy;
• nausea;
• muscle and joint pain;
• generalized weakness;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

What happens if you are bitten by a tick?

Irina: The virus poses a lethal threat mainly to the elderly, people with weakened immunity or concomitant neurological diseases. The cause of death in this case becomes neurological lesions caused by the virus (for example, paralysis of respiratory muscles). The consequences of an encephalitic tick bite can be compared to the consequences of a stroke or severe brain injury.

How to protect yourself from ticks

If you are going camping, often go to the countryside or live in a region where, according to statistics, tick-borne encephalitis is widespread, it is worth getting vaccinated in advance. It should be done before the tick season starts. Other tick-borne infections are treated with antibacterial drugs.

Irina: To know for sure whether the caught tick was a vector of infection (and if so – what kind), you should immediately take the parasite to the laboratory. Medical centers all over Russia accept ticks for examination. If the tick turns out to be a vector, you should immediately see a doctor and start treatment. If the parasite according to the results of the analysis will be “clean”, in any case, you will have to carefully monitor your health for the next 3-4 weeks. In 21 days after the bite, it is recommended to take a blood test for the same four tick-borne infections.

The best prevention of tick-borne infections is vaccination and clothing that covers the body and head as much as possible. When you return from nature, ask someone close to you to inspect your hair – ticks often hide on the scalp. If a tick encounter cannot be avoided, see a doctor as soon as possible.