How to remove a tick the right way

Adam

Leg. Doctor

How to remove a tick the right way | Recetas Medicas

Ticks may be small, but their bites can have serious consequences for both humans and animals. Most people who get a tick bite do not get sick, but sometimes tick bites can lead to serious infections such as Lyme disease and TBE. Knowing how to properly remove a tick can prevent many of the diseases that the little arachnids carry. In this article, we go over how to remove ticks correctly and how you can protect yourself from tick bites.

Facts about ticks

Ticks belong to the group of arachnids and are parasites that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are active as long as the temperature is above five degrees, which means that they can be active for large parts of the year in many parts of Sweden. The season is usually counted from March to November. Ticks are usually found in forests, tall grass and brush where they wait to bite into the skin of passing people and animals. Being bitten by a tick usually does not cause problems, but sometimes they can carry and spread diseases such as Lyme disease and TBE.

Ticks go through three life stages: larva, nymph and adult. They must suck blood in order to progress to the next stage. It is most common for them to spread diseases when they are nymphs or adults. When a tick finds a host, it bites into the skin with its mouth. The tick can burrow in and suck blood for several days. Although they are small, they can cause great damage by spreading infections.

How long does a tick stay?

After a tick finds a host, it usually attaches within 24 hours. How long it is stuck depends on the stage of development it is in - from a few days to over a week. The longer the tick remains, the greater the risk of it transmitting disease.

Diseases spread by ticks

There are several diseases that can be spread by ticks and they are a serious health problem in many parts of the world. The most common tick-borne diseases in Sweden are Lyme disease and TBE. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that causes symptoms such as skin rash, fever and fatigue. Lyme disease can spread and lead to neurological symptoms, joint pain and skin conditions if left untreated.

TBE is a virus that can cause severe encephalitis. It is important to act quickly in the event of a tick bite to minimize the risk of contracting one of these diseases. There are vaccines against TBE that you should take if you live or spend a lot of time in risk areas.

How to remove a tick?

When you discover a tick, it is important to remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of ingesting infectious agents. How to properly remove a tick:

Remove tick with tweezers

Use tick tweezers or regular, sharp tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Carefully pull straight out without twisting or squeezing the tick. Try to get the whole tick. If something remains in the wound, you can leave it alone. Clean the bite site with soap and water or disinfectant.

Remove tick without tweezers

If you don't have access to tweezers, you can use a special tick remover. They can be bought at pharmacies and are specially designed so as not to damage the tick during removal. The procedure is the same: pull the tick straight out without twisting.

Methods to avoid

There are many old housewife tips such as covering the tick with butter, oil or nail polish to "suffocate" it, but these methods can actually be downright harmful. They can cause the tick to become stressed and release more infectious agents directly, which increases the risk of contracting serious diseases.

What should I do if I get a tick?

Once you have removed the tick, it is important to keep an eye on the bite site for a few weeks. If a reddening of the skin appears after about a week, it may be a sign of Lyme disease, especially if the reddening grows.

When should I seek care?

Contact healthcare provider if:

• The redness around the bite grows and does not go away after a few days.
• You get a red ring around the bite site that is more than 5 centimeters in diameter.
• You get symptoms such as fever, headache or muscle and joint pain some time after the bite. It could be a sign of Lyme disease or TBE.

Seek emergency care if you get a headache, neck stiffness and feel very ill after a tick bite. Call 112 if you experience paralysis in the face, arms or legs.

This is how you can protect yourself against tick bites

Ticks thrive in tall grass and under bushes and other vegetation. Here are some tips to avoid bites:

• Wear long, full-covering clothing and tuck pant legs into socks. Wear full-coverage shoes, preferably boots.
• Use tick repellants.
• Avoid walking through tall grass and other areas where ticks are present.
• Look carefully for ticks on the body when you have been outdoors.
• Reduce the risk of contracting TBE by getting vaccinated.

Ticks and pets

Pets that stay outdoors get tick bites more often because they move closer to the ground and in tall grass where ticks thrive. Therefore, regularly check the animal's fur to quickly detect and remove ticks. Use a special tick remover for animals and follow the same method as when removing ticks on humans. You can also protect your animal by buying special tick repellants or tick collars for preventive purposes. It is unusual for animals to develop symptoms and become ill after tick bites, even if they have an infection.

By knowing how to effectively remove and prevent tick bites, we can protect both ourselves and our pets from the serious diseases these tiny parasites can carry. Being well informed and regularly checking your body after being outdoors is the key to dealing with ticks safely and effectively.