The most effective ways to avoid tick bites in summer: expert advice

Ticks usually live in grassy and forested areas and feed on the blood of animals and humans. Ticks are especially active in summer when temperatures rise and people spend more time outdoors.

One of the most common problems associated with ticks is their ability to transmit infectious diseases. Some types of ticks can carry borreliosis (Lyme disease), tick-borne encephalitis, and anaplasmosis.

In addition to transmitting diseases, ticks can also cause skin irritation and itching at the site of their bite. Some people may develop allergic reactions to tick bites.

Read also: What to do if your dog is bitten by a tick

To prevent tick bites and disease transmission, it is recommended to:

1. Wear protective clothing that covers the skin, especially when in forests or grassy areas.
2. Use tick repellents on skin and clothing.
3. Thoroughly inspect your body after being outdoors and remove ticks if they are attached to your skin.
4. When you are outdoors, stay away from thickets and tall grass, where ticks are commonly found.

If you notice signs of infection after a tick bite, such as a fever, rash, or other unusual symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention.

What to do if you are bitten by a tick:

• Go to an emergency room. You will have the tick removed and told what to do.
• If you cannot visit a doctor, you can remove the tick yourself with a special device. You can buy it in pharmacies ("tick puller"). Press the device to the skin, grab the tick in the gap, gently shake it from side to side, and twist it out in a convenient direction without jerking.
• It is important to remove the tick with its proboscis. If it has come off, you can remove the remains with a sterile needle as a splinter, but it can also come out on its own.
• After removing the tick, the wound should be treated with an antiseptic, and hands should be washed with soap and water and treated as well.
• You do not need to take tests or antibiotics yourself.

After the bite, you should observe the place where the tick bit. If erythema appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.

As a reminder, we have already written about methods of repelling mosquitoes from the house.

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