On our planet there are more than 47 thousand names of arachnid arthropods, blood-sucking acarids, living on every continent and under all climatic conditions. Ticks, members of the suborder acari, are a large family that differ both in appearance and in their lifestyle.
Conventionally, zoologists divide all existing acarids into two types:
- Scavengers - These species feed only on organic decay products.
- Hematophages are parasitic predators that feed on the blood of mammals and are carriers of particularly dangerous diseases.
All kinds of these blood-sucking parasites can easily live on every person, as well as in living quarters, causing such terrible diseases as Lymeborreliosis, scochytosis, demodicosis, fever, typhus, damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems, allergies and even plague.
Ways to combat ticks
To date, there are not so many orthodox and tested methods of combating hematophagous parasites. Of course, it would be safer to entrust the work of removing ticks to specialists by contacting the appropriate service for help. However, this method is quite expensive, and, in addition, a tick attack can happen on vacation far from civilization, and the help of a specialized specialist may be late. Existing methods of control are based on the use of physical or chemical methods of removing the bloodsucker.
Mechanical
This method includes increasing the temperature in the rooms where the parasite was noticed, scalding the outside with boiling water, treating with ultraviolet lamps, and installing ultra-acoustic devices.
Complex synthetic
The most effective methods in the fight against ticks are all kinds of synthetic preparations, presented in the form of chemicals created using modern technologies and containing a combination of elements that destroy or repel the parasite. Manufacturing companies producing such products do not stand still in their development, offering consumers their expanding range of complex acaricides, constantly improving their characteristics. How to choose the best remedy and protect yourself and your loved ones from the bite of the acarid parasite from the effective drugs offered on the domestic market, thereby ensuring reliable protection?
Types of chemicals against acarid parasites
Existing anti-parasitic aerosols and creams are divided into three types:
- a synthesized repellent element that drives away parasitic predators with its odious aroma;
- a chemical substance acaricide, made on the basis of sulfur, causing a nerve paralytic effect in the sucking person, followed by complete destruction;
- blended substances that act on the tick in parallel and synchronously.
On each container of the purchased product, the manufacturer is required to indicate what type it is according to the method of exposure, as well as the main chemical elements included in its composition. For high-quality sprays, the main substances included in its base should be the reagents diethtoluamide and alphamethrin. When using such drugs, you must be aware of the limitations of use for some people. First of all this:
- children under 3 years of age;
- individuals suffering from allergies;
- those preparing to become mothers and breastfeeding.
Video application
“For dessert,” I recommend watching a very informative half-hour video from the famous fishing gurus, the Shcherbakov brothers, about the use and field testing of the most universal tick repellent, and how to behave correctly in “tick” areas.
Notes[]
Notes
| ↑1 | Pyrethroids are artificial analogues of the natural poisons pyrethrins. Both of them got their name from the word “pyrethrum” - “chamomile”, as they are contained in some flowers of this genus, for example, in Dalmatian chamomile, which grows in the southern regions of Europe. |
| ↑2 | Anorak is a closed jacket worn over the head. |
The best manufacturers of anti-tick drugs
Choosing a sufficiently effective spray or ointment to protect against parasites is an extremely necessary thing during a hike or outdoor recreation with the whole family. Fans of fishing, hunting and mushroom picking cannot do without such protection. And here it is necessary to take into account the fact that the purchased product should help both adults and children without compromising their health. The ranking of popular manufacturing companies, whose products you should pay special attention to, will help you make the right choice.
Gardex
The name of the company, which has existed on the domestic market for more than ten years, comes from the English guard, which literally means “repel an attack”, “protect”. This fully reflects the essence of the work of the chemical industrial concern, whose product range includes protective drugs against blood-sucking parasites and children's protective products. All of the company’s products undergo the strictest quality checks, and the company itself is in constant development, offering consumers more and more advanced drugs.
Mosquttall
All brand products are developed using innovative technologies and compliance with all necessary international quality and safety standards. According to surveys, more than 70% of consumers become regular Moskitol customers, assessing the quality of the company’s products as very worthy. The drugs produced by the brand are excellent for use against parasites both on the street or in the forest, and inside existing living quarters, as they not only have a high performance indicator, but are also sufficiently safe to use.
Biopharm LTD
Possessing extensive medical knowledge with a combination of innovative technologies, the Polish Limited Liability Company "Biopharm" creates and markets protective chemical drugs on the world market, confirmed by all European standards, proving to the consumer their complete safety and sufficient effectiveness.
Symptoms and treatment of diseases caused by a bite
There are no absolute contraindications.
However, if you have a built-in pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, you must provide a referral with permission from the attending physician (cardiologist-arrhythmologist or cardiac surgeon) before the procedure. Pregnant women must provide permission for the procedure from a gynecologist.
At the New Hospital, you can consult a cardiologist-arrhythmologist or a cardiac surgeon, and if necessary, the device will be configured for safe electromyography.
Tick-borne encephalitis is more common; the incubation period lasts 7-14 days. Signs include fever, muscle weakness and dystrophy, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms subside for eight days, but then 30% of patients develop signs of central nervous system damage. There is no specific treatment; symptomatic therapy is carried out aimed at eliminating symptoms and complications.
Lyme disease appears in the first few weeks, but can be asymptomatic for up to several years. Manifested by chills, increased body temperature, body aches, and stiff neck muscles. A characteristic feature of the disease is the appearance of migrating annular erythema. In some cases, after 1-3 months, symptoms of damage to the nervous or cardiac systems appear.
Treatment includes taking Doxycyline at a dosage of 200 mg in the first three days. Further treatment includes antibiotics, bactericides, NSAIDs, detoxification therapy and other treatments.
Monocytic ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease manifested by fever, skin rash and myalgia. Sometimes symptoms of damage to the central nervous system, urinary and respiratory systems occur. Treatment is carried out with tetracyclines, intravenous administration of glucose-saline solutions, and painkillers are administered. Drugs are used to normalize damaged organs.
You can make an appointment for a consultation and diagnostics by phone. (343) 355-56-57
Review of budget acaricidal and repellent preparations for tick control
The number of insecticidal and acaricidal mite disinfectants available on the modern chemical market leaves the consumer perplexed about which drug is best to buy in order to protect themselves and their family from the scourge of the parasite. According to a customer survey, the most effective products at an inexpensive price are:
Anti-mite “Deadly force” 3 in 1
An effective killer of all types of ticks and other blood-sucking parasites. The increased concentration of its active substance guarantees a protective effect against attacks by predatory insects for up to 15 days. It is used for processing wardrobe items and then drying them. Clothes should not be worn until completely dry. Average price: from 100 rubles.
Advantages:
- lethal effect on all types of acarids;
- very minimal price;
- extended time of exposure to the drug.
Flaws:
- there is some dose of toxicity;
- highly flammable.
DETA -WOCCO
The formula for this high-quality and inexpensive product was developed by disinfection scientists for more than 10 years, until finally the formulation of this repellent became perfect, providing reliable protection against all types of blood-sucking parasites. Contains a selection of essential substances that enhance the repellent effect on ticks. The period of the protective function lasts up to 25 days. Average price: from 135 rubles.
Advantages:
- long period of protective effect;
- low price for the product;
- pleasant smell of the substance.
Flaws:
- unacceptable use for children and women preparing to become mothers, breastfeeding.
DEFI - TAIGA
The formula of this insectoacaricide, available in the form of an aerosol, balm, gel and chemical pencil, has a repellent effect, effectively protecting bloodsucker acarids from bites. Method of application: externally on existing clothing, avoiding contact of the drug with the inner layer of the walls of the hollow organs of the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary systems. Average price: from 175 rubles.
Advantages:
- effective action;
- budget price.
Flaws:
- the possibility of resonance in the form of an allergic rash;
- Strong smell.
MOSKILLE
The protective effect of this drug lasts up to five days, causing ticks to crawl in the opposite direction. Apply it to open areas of the body and existing clothing, avoiding contact with mucous membranes. Average price: from 160 rubles.
Advantages:
- affordable price;
- long-term deterrent effect.
Flaws:
- allergic manifestations;
- slight toxicity of the drug.
Reftamid Maximum
A repellent spray formula designed to repel bloodsucking acarids of the following types: forest, steppe, taiga, with a protective effect cycle of up to 5 hours when applied to the skin and up to 4 days when covering wardrobe items with the chemical. Average price: from 150 rubles.
Advantages:
- long exposure;
- affordable prices for products.
Flaws:
- minor toxicity;
- possibility of insect allergy.
Mite Kaput
A repellent-acaricidal drug that is quite effective against all types of ticks. Treatment occurs only on items of clothing, avoiding contact of the substance with the skin. The treated wardrobe is dried for 1-3 hours. It is not permissible to etch it on the person himself or to put it on until it has completely dried. Average price: from 135 rubles.
Advantages:
- maintaining the effectiveness of the effect for up to 8 days;
- scaring away other bloodsuckers;
- low price.
Flaws:
- very toxic;
- flammable.
How to tell the difference?
On the can, the manufacturer states whether it is a repellent or an acricide and must indicate the active ingredient.
Pay attention to the active ingredient.
In repellent aerosols, the active ingredient may be icaridin (CBD 3023) or diethyltoluamide (or DEET).
In acaricidal sprays, the active ingredient is most often alphacypermethrin or alphamethrin, and it is with these active ingredients that I recommend choosing an acaricidal aerosol. This is a poison that paralyzes the tick and it simply detaches itself from clothing. But here, too, everything depends on the concentration, the optimal option is 0.2-0.25%.
Review of high-quality and popular drugs for tick control at an average price
All kinds of tick disinfectants, being modern external preparations for protection against all types of ticks, are available to every consumer, because they can be found on pharmacy shelves and in specialized retail outlets. Innovative products are produced by both Russian and foreign manufacturers. By making reference to the opinions of experts and surveys of consumers who already have experience in using acaricidal and repellent drugs, potential leaders who are popular with the average buyer are identified.
Mosquitol
Aerosols from Moskitol prove that innovative chemical preparations for combating insect parasites are not only highly effective, but also quite safe when used. Mosquito repellents have protective properties even for the delicate and sensitive skin of children and are approved for use by pregnant and breastfeeding women. The product is applied to the skin and has an effective tick-repellent effect for up to 3 hours. Average price: from 200 rubles.
Advantages:
- safe use for children and pregnant women;
- ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties;
- neutral is closer to a pleasant smell.
Flaws:
- In some cases, insect allergy is possible.
Gardex Extreme
The presented product provides reliable protection against all types of active predatory mites. The product is applied by spraying onto existing items of clothing and equipment, having previously created protection for the respiratory system and eyes. Disinfected items are dried before further use. It is prohibited to process things on the human body! Average price: from 250 rubles.
Advantages:
- wide temporary protective period;
- ergonomics of the cylinder;
- lethal power of the drug.
Flaws:
- unpleasant chemical smell;
- a ban on the use of the product for children and women preparing to become mothers.
Medilis-Comfort
A wonderful drug with the active element permethrin, which copes with the protective function against attacks of all types of acarids. Application is available for both adults and children. The active substance of this antifeeding agent not only repels ticks, but, by creating a nerve-paralytic effect for the parasite, destroys the predator. Apply to things and equipment, allowing them to dry completely. Average price: from 245 rubles.
Advantages:
- long protective effect;
- Possibility of use for children;
- nice smell.
Flaws:
- possibility of manifestations in the form of allergic rashes.
Breeze-Anticlesh
An excellent acaricide aerosol for those who want to protect themselves and their family from attacks by predatory mites. Has the largest number of positive reviews from consumers. Unlike its similarities, Breeze - Anti-Tick destroys ticks even if they simply come into contact with treated items, which should be worn only after they have completely dried after pickling. Average price: from 400 rubles.
Advantages:
- destruction of acarids before contact with human skin;
- high degree of protection;
- long waiting period.
Flaws:
- Quite an unpleasant odor that does not disappear for a long time.
Reftamid Anti-mite Taiga
A super-effective complex preparation, applied only to clothing and uniforms made of fabric. The treated items are dried and put on underwear. The period of the protective function of the drug lasts about 15 days. Pickled wardrobe items are stored in plastic bags. Average price: from 200 rubles.
Advantages:
- lethal protective effect;
- long waiting period;
- quality assurance.
Flaws:
- toxicity;
- flammability.
ARGUS
A reliable repellent spray that repels all types of existing parasitic mites from humans. The purpose of this drug is one hundred percent protection against blood-sucking predators. Apply to the skin or existing items of a person’s wardrobe. Experiments with the application of this product showed that after a few minutes of contact with the treated items, the acarids fell off, losing their ability to adhere. Average price: from 205 rubles.
Advantages:
- amazing tick-repellent effect;
- long waiting period.
Flaws:
- some substances present in the drug are toxic;
- cases of purchasing a counterfeit.
Follow the conditions for using acaricidal aerosols.
Do not treat a suit with synthetic fiber with acaricidal or repellent aerosol, not because it will have a worse effect, but chemicals can ruin such a suit.
- Before applying the spray, be sure to shake the can 3-5 times.
- Treat clothes only outdoors. Remember that the active ingredients of acaricidal aerosols are toxic. It is strictly forbidden to perform treatment on humans.
- The jet should be directed in the direction of the wind, and the clothes being treated should be kept at a distance of 20-25 cm from an outstretched arm with a spray can.
- You need to apply at least 20 g of product per 1 square meter of clothing until lightly moistened.
- Then be sure to dry the clothes for at least 2 hours and put them on underwear.
Under the influence of acaricidal preparations against ticks, they do not die immediately. The concentration of the substance is selected so that a person does not suffer chemical burns. Some manufacturers do not add product to the cans. Determine how full the can is by lightly shaking it in your hands.
Ultra-acoustic devices for tick control
The existing variety of sprays, ointments and creams that help repel and kill ticks are still not very safe for human health. A rather original substitute for such agents are ultrasonic devices, which in their application differ significantly from acaricidal drugs. Such units have a built-in ultrasonic maser with a floating frequency, which provides an inhibitory effect on all types of mites, having constant preferential selection criteria, since:
- have no contraindications;
- safe to use for children, pregnant women, elderly people, animals;
- emit ultra-acoustic waves that pose a threat only to insect predators and parasites;
- do not contain negative and toxic substances;
- ergonomic and easy to use.
TickLess
An ultra-acoustic repeller that you can take with you on hiking trips, hunting and fishing. It can be successfully used to protect both adults and children. It has a wide radius of action to drive away parasites, amounting to about 3 meters. Average price: from 3000 rubles.
Advantages:
- decent scope of action;
- waterproof;
- compactness.
Flaws:
- Non-replaceable battery after expiration of service life.
Anti-mite clothing
There’s probably no point in telling anyone about pants tucked into socks and a jacket tucked into pants—these are basic clothing requirements for a spring hike. Of course, there are advantages to this “form of clothing” - a tick definitely won’t crawl into your pants or under your jacket. But nothing will prevent him from getting to the tourist’s open head (if the clothes are not treated with chemicals first).
Therefore, in the spring it is better to go outdoors in a special anti-encephalitis suit (popularly called “encephalitis”). Without the use of chemicals, it already provides minimal protection against ticks, thanks to the following elements:
- The suit consists of pants and an anorak [2] An anorak is a closed jacket worn over the head. The second is tucked into the first.
- The pants legs and sleeves of the suit have thick cuffs that prevent ticks from crawling under them. Also, the cuffs on the pants can be tucked into shoes, for example, into hiking boots.
- On the legs, sleeves and the anorak itself - on the chest and back - special downward folds of fabric are sewn. They act as insurmountable barricades. The tick, having mounted its victim, instinctively crawls up - onto its head, because there are places with thin skin where it is easier to dig into it. He never crawls down. Once in a fold of fabric (and it will prefer to crawl into it because it loves secluded places), the tick finds itself in a dead end, from which it simply does not have the intelligence to get out.
- The anorak must have a hood, which is equipped with the main protective element of the suit - a “visor” made of mosquito netting. It is usually unfastened and folded into a pocket, but if necessary, it can be quickly zipped to the hood. Now no tick will leak onto a tourist’s head - you can safely climb into the most dangerous places - even without chemicals, but with an assistant - so that someone can inspect the suit from behind and remove the ticks sitting there.
A tourist in an anti-encephalitis suit, sprayed with an acaricidal composition, becomes too tough for the tick. Of course, provided that there are no holes in the suit and all its parts are tucked securely and where they should be.
Photo 5. Protective elements of the anti-encephalitis suit: 1 - fold on the chest, 2 - fold on the sleeve, 3 - cuff.
Such suits are sold in any store that sells workwear and clothing for fishermen and hunters.
When choosing a suit, preference should be given to those models that have all of the above elements of protection against ticks , as well as those that are made from natural cotton fabric - this is extremely important. The suit will have to be treated with chemicals that can corrode synthetics - that's one thing, it must also breathe, otherwise the tourist will smear in it - that's two things.
What is tick-borne encephalitis
This is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. How sad its consequences will be depends on the age and immunity of the infected person. There are several options for the development of events. For example, the “asymptomatic” form, in which a person does not feel any changes in the body. People may not know they are sick for a long time. It is detected by testing. The second, most common type is called “febrile”. It is similar to ARVI and goes away in four to five days. The worst case scenario will be if the virus enters the brain tissue. In this case, even if the patient can be saved, he risks remaining disabled.
For a person, the best way to protect against it is vaccination. Over the past few years, active disease prevention has been carried out in Russia in areas where there are “hotbeds” of infections. The areas and areas where the disease occurs are controlled by special government programs.
Travelers and those going on long business trips are being vaccinated. How you can get infected All “tick-borne” infections are transmitted by the so-called “bite” of an insect. In fact, ticks do not bite, but stick to the victim.
In most cases, a person becomes infected with the virus in this way, but there is also a rarer way of transmitting the disease. It is associated with the life cycle of the parasite. This is a blood-sucking insect that attaches itself to various animals. Sick cattle (cows and goats) produce infected milk, which is consumed by humans. Goat product is especially dangerous.
This is interesting
In 2016, a case of tick-borne encephalitis associated with the consumption of contaminated milk was registered in Moscow.
Protection against ticks in a suburban area
Protective measures against ticks in the area of a country house/cottage can reduce the likelihood of contact with ticks in the open air. But personal precautions (clothing, check-ups) are still necessary.
- Clearing forest boundaries and mowing lawns . Some of the carriers of ticks are mice; they live in areas bordering forests. It is advisable to clear these areas and separate the lawn from them with a path of wood chips about a meter wide. It is also important to mow the lawn regularly: a well-trimmed and sunny lawn is less suitable for ticks than thickets of tall grass in the shade.
- Treating the area with a tick killer can reduce the local tick population; however, this approach has not been shown to reduce the number of new cases of tick-related diseases because such treatments do not prevent the introduction of new ticks.
Protection against ticks in the city
You can also find ticks in city parks, so when relaxing on the grass you must follow the same recommendations as if you were in the forest. Dog owners should be constantly on guard: it is often on dogs that blood-sucking insects enter the house, even if the animal takes anti-tick tablets. Therefore, it is also necessary to inspect animal hair after a walk.
How to remove a tick correctly? Which methods to use and why?
How to understand that you have been bitten by a tick: symptoms after a tick bite with encephalitis and Lyme disease
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Photo: RIA Novosti/Vladimir Fedorenko, Maxim Bogodvid, Denis Abramov; pexels.com/Erik Karits
