Over the past half century, there has been a sharp increase in human and animal diseases. In most cases, these are infectious and invasive diseases, the carriers of which are ticks and other insects. Ticks belong to the subclass of arthropods from the class of arachnids. Ticks are the most numerous group. In this class there are There are more than 48,000 species.They achieved such prosperity of their species due to the fact that in the process of evolution they reached microscopic and extremely small sizes, which made them invulnerable to most insectivorous animals, and allowed them to populate the upper layers of the soil.
Acarology - the science of mites
What does an encephalitis tick look like?
Encephalitis is a disease of the brain in which an inflammatory process develops in it. The pathology belongs to the primary or, as it is also called, independent type. It develops as a result of a tick bite. The encephalitis tick is no different from the usual one. Pathology can only be identified through specific studies. The virus is transmitted by females, larvae and even nymphs of arthropods. Infection occurs from animals that have been bitten by ticks previously.
A tick looks like a small insect. It is usually colored brownish-red and has a proboscis. The length of the male in a hungry state reaches 2.5 mm. The female is larger than him. Its size can be 3-4 mm. The top of the tick's body is covered with a dense black plate. In a male individual, it covers almost the entire back. After blood saturation occurs, the female increases in size to one centimeter. The size of the male does not change. The fact is that he needs less food. To understand what encephalitis ticks look like, you need to look at the photo.
To make a bite, the tick uses a hypos. Outwardly, it resembles a proboscis. It is with its help that the tick attaches to the victim and feeds with its help. The hypophysis is also a sensory organ. Most often, ticks bite victims in the ears, groin, abdomen, lower back, chest, armpits or neck. As a result of exposure to arthropod saliva, a local inflammatory process occurs. Additionally, an allergic reaction may occur. It appears as redness at the site of the bite. In this case, the victim does not feel pain. Changes in the skin do not always occur. And the evidence of a tick bite in this situation is the arthropod itself that has sucked on.
Depending on the region, the risk of encountering a tick bite can vary significantly. It is necessary to pay attention not only to the season, but also to temperature and humidity. Thus, the most favorable weather for ticks is considered to be an air temperature of plus 5 degrees and a humidity of 80%. Such conditions are usually observed in May-June and in late August and early September. If the temperature is above 22 degrees Celsius, mite activity decreases.
Typically, arthropods attack prey in cloudy weather before rain. The greatest danger is observed before 8 am and after 19-22 pm. Typically, ticks do not rise to a height of more than 50 cm. They jump onto the victim from the grass or bushes. A tick can spend a long time looking for a suitable place to bite. If noticed in time, insects should be removed before they bite through the skin.
The male tick does not attach itself to the victim. He quickly bites, feeds and falls off. The female adheres to a different tactic. She will sit on the victim until she is completely saturated. At the same time, its weight increases almost 100 times.
How to protect yourself from bites
When visiting parks and forests, as well as bodies of water, you should carefully choose your clothing. Yes, those shorts, tank top and sandals that you were planning to wear are not suitable. You should choose clothes with long sleeves and trouser legs, preferably with elastic at the ends, long socks over the trouser legs, a scarf or hood, and a covered neck. Yes, you may say that the view is great, but health is more important! Choose places for a walk or rest without tall vegetation, and minimize your contact with vegetation. You can learn more about purchasing tick repellents here.
Conclusions from Tikhon: The tick is a dangerous parasite and meeting it does not bode well. Do not neglect simple tips, protect yourself and your loved ones before walking in nature.
If you have experience on the topic of this article, share it in the comments below. Perhaps your experience will help someone make the right decision. Happiness to you and your loved ones. Take care of yourself.
First aid for a tick bite
If a person is bitten by a tick, it is necessary to immediately contact an institution involved in the prevention of tick-borne infections. A timely visit to the seroprophylaxis center will allow you to avoid pathologies carried by these arthropods. If a person has not previously been vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis, immunoglobulin will be administered after a blood and insect test. The action must be completed 3 days from the moment of the bite. In this situation, the development of the disease can be avoided, even if the tick was infected with encephalitis.
Having noticed a tick attached to you, the first thing you need to do is pull it out. This will reduce the risk of infection and reduce the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction. The remaining wound is treated with disinfectants. It can be 5% iodine, vodka or alcohol. After the procedure is completed, you must wash your hands well.
The removed tick should not be thrown away. It must be placed in a vial or jar with a damp swab, and then taken to the laboratory. If there is no seroprophylaxis point nearby, or the person does not know where it is, it is necessary to get rid of the insect to prevent infection of others. To do this, you need to burn it or drown it in boiling water.
What to do if you are bitten by a tick
The main rule is not to panic! The main task is to remove the tick, either yourself or go to the hospital. There are many methods for extracting a tick, but if you extract it yourself, you must be 100% sure that you will succeed. Read more about removing a tick yourself here. You cannot do without medical help if: difficulty breathing, pale and bluish skin, swelling of the lips and eyelids, muscle disease. These are the main symptoms when you need to consult a doctor, do not delay.
One day our cat was bitten by a tick. No matter how we tried to remove it: we pulled it out with a vacuum, and burned it, and smeared it with brilliant green... Until it turned out that it was his nipple! Sorry, Barsik...
Symptoms of encephalitis
If a person does not see a doctor, the risk of encephalitis remains for 30 days from the moment of the bite. This is how long the incubation period of the disease lasts. It usually appears within one to two weeks from the moment of the bite. The development of the disease occurs in several stages. Within one to two days of the bite, a person may begin to feel weakness in the legs and arms. The condition is often accompanied by a feeling of weakness.
The next stage is the acute period of the disease. It is characterized by fever. The temperature may rise to 39-40 degrees. A person is faced with a sleep disorder. A manifestation of the syndrome of impaired consciousness is observed. Its essence lies in the fact that a person perceives any external stimuli very keenly. At the same time, there is a slowdown in thinking. The patient loses orientation in space. The patient develops severe headaches, nausea and vomiting. Redness appears at the site of the bite. Similar phenomena are observed on the face, skin and even the eyes. The patient is bothered by muscle pain.
The symptoms of the pathology at the first stage are very similar to the flu. Because of this disease, it is often confused, which leads to a worsening of its further course. Encephalitis can occur in the form of the letter H. There is a break between phases. For the first 3-7 days, a person is in a state very similar to the flu. In this case, the brain is not affected. Then follows a break, the duration of which is 1-2 days. Experts call it ataraxia. Then the second wave of fever begins. It is during this that damage to the central nervous system and brain is observed. There are five forms during the pathology. The list includes:
- Feverish. This type of pathology is considered one of the easiest. If a patient is diagnosed with this type of disease, there remains a large chance of recovery. The pathology manifests itself in the form of a feverish state. It lasts for several days. In this case, the central nervous system is practically not affected.
- Meningeal. This type of pathology occurs most often. The duration of the disease is 6-12 days. The prognosis is always favorable. The pathology is manifested by a general poor condition, muscle tension at the back of the head and inhibited thinking. In this case, the symptoms of damage to the membranes of the brain are very clearly visible. The man assumes the pose of a gundog. He arches his back, throws his head back and presses his knees to his stomach. Additionally, blanket syndrome is present. A person feels the desire to hide under the blanket even in conditions of closed consciousness. There is an increase in the sensitivity of the senses and skin. The person involuntarily sucks in his stomach.
- Meningoencephalitic. This is a severe type of pathology. In turn, there are two types of disease - focal and diffuse. In 1 situation, most of the cranial nerves are affected. As a result, epilepsy may develop. In a quarter of cases there is death. In the second type of pathology, inflammation of the substance of the membranes of the brain occurs. The patient experiences epileptic seizures, hallucinations and delusions. The result of the pathology can be cerebral edema and disruption of vital functions. This causes the death of the patient. Even if successful treatment is carried out, problems with swallowing and speech may persist. As a result, a person may be recognized as disabled.
- Poliomyelitis. Initially, the patient feels severe weakness. He gets tired very quickly. There is a feeling of numbness throughout the body. Then flaccid paralysis of the muscles of the neck and arms occurs. The head lies on the chest. Symptoms persist for 7 days. Then atrophy of the damaged muscles is observed. This type of disease occurs in 30% of cases. It can cause disability.
- Polyradiculoneuritic. The symptoms are similar to the previous form of the disease. However, in this situation, the roots and peripheral nerves are most affected. The patient can be cured without any consequences.
Why and how bed bugs appear at home
There is still no exact answer to the question of where linen mites come from in a person’s apartment. Their appearance and presence do not indicate unsanitary conditions. They even live in places where they monitor cleanliness, regularly change bed linen, wash clothes and shake out bedding. Their population may be so small that people do not notice them.
In homes where cleaning is done poorly, and bed linen is changed once a month or less often, dandruff and dead particles of human skin and hair accumulate in dust and folds of fabric - what bed mites love. Having received food, the parasite begins to multiply, and its population in the apartment increases sharply. A female linen mite lays up to 300 eggs per day. More than a hundred of these adult individuals live in a gram of dust.
Linen mites are transmitted by:
- people (with clothes);
- pets (cats, dogs, birds);
- other insects living in human homes (cockroaches, bedbugs).
Due to the fact that the linen mite can be brought from anywhere, it is impossible to understand how and when it appeared in our house.
It lives in the same place as people, because it feeds on human dandruff, pieces of human hair and particles of dead skin and nails. It is easy to pick up a linen mite from another person, especially an untidy one. This parasite thrives in the folds of clothes that have not been washed for a long time, and in hats.
Dogs and cats, which love to lie in bed and on a person’s bed, carry on their fur up to a dozen different invisible pests, including bed mites. Having met other pets on the street while walking, they exchange the inhabitants of their fur, and the tick ends up in another house, where it begins to look for food.
Important! Cockroaches and bedbugs - companions of unsanitary conditions - carry dirt, infection and dust on their legs and bellies, and along with the dust - linen mites.
Linen or bed mites live where it is warm and dusty, close to food. Habitats can be:
- in soft toys;
- in mattresses;
- on shelves with books;
- in bed linen;
- under furniture where dust accumulates;
- in woolen clothes, blankets and bedspreads;
- in feather pillows;
- in old cotton blankets.
The tick also loves carpets and rugs made of natural pile, curtains and furniture upholstery. That is, all those places where people cannot reach during cleaning.
Diagnosis and treatment
To detect encephalitis, it is necessary to conduct a blood test. However, the result will not be obtained immediately after the bite. The disease will be confirmed only after 2 weeks. The most reliable way to diagnose pathology is lumbar puncture. Material for research is collected between the processes of the 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae. The cerebrospinal fluid is then sent for analysis. The results obtained are compared with established standards. The study will be ready in a week. There are a number of other methods that allow you to get the final result faster. The list includes:
- counter immunophoresis;
- fluorescent antibodies;
- PCR.
If the patient has encephalitis, treatment will depend on the symptoms. They can vary significantly. Even people who have previously been vaccinated need to see a specialist. During the acute period of the disease, bed rest is prescribed. The patient is admitted to the hospital. There he should remain until the symptoms disappear. Additionally, you must follow a diet. It is developed individually. It depends on the degree of damage to the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, it is recommended to take ascorbic acid. It is required to improve the functioning of the liver and adrenal glands.
Anti-encephalitis immunoglobulin is used to combat the disease. The positive effect is noticeable within one or two days. After its administration, a decrease in temperature to normal is observed, meningeal symptoms become less pronounced, and the general condition of the patient improves. Sometimes anti-encephalitis immunoglobulin is replaced by:
- leukinferon;
- homologous polyglobulin;
- reaferon;
- serum immunoglobulin;
- ribonuclease.
Vitamins, sodium chloride and glucose are used to combat the effects of toxins. All substances are administered intravenously. For some types of pathology, additional treatment methods are prescribed. If the disease has not affected the cranial nerves and there is no disorder of consciousness, the doctor will prescribe the use of prednisolone. At the same time, a gentle diet and potassium salts are prescribed.
Signs of a bite
The main rule is that the sooner you find a tick, the better. Therefore, after returning, immediately undress and inspect your entire body for the presence of a parasite, shake out your clothes and put them in the wash. The first signs of the presence of a tick will appear after a few hours in the form of: weakness, drowsiness, aching joints, chills, light aversion. How pronounced everything will be depends on the physiology of the person himself and on the number of bites. The first and most important sign is the detection of the embedded tick itself. And then the temperature rises to 39 - 41 ° C, tachycardia, decreased blood pressure, itching, rash. The consequences of infection can affect: the nervous system, joints, lungs, kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system.
Consequences of an encephalitis tick bite
Encephalitis can lead to a large number of complications. The result of the disease can be:
- urinary and fecal incontinence;
- meningitis;
- deterioration of vision and hearing;
- occurrence of mental problems;
- headaches that constantly bother the patient;
- disruption of the musculoskeletal system.
If rehabilitation is carried out correctly, the negative consequences gradually disappear. However, this will take time. In severe cases of pathology, recovery may take several years.
Fighting methods
You need to fight the linen mite using different methods:
- mechanical;
- chemical;
- natural.
Each method has its own characteristics. So, bed mites - bites, photos, symptoms, how to get rid of them.
Mechanical method
Fighting bed mites using mechanical methods means general cleaning or sanitation of the premises. At this stage, you should remove pillows stuffed with feathers and bird down, wool and cotton blankets, replace the mattress, vacuum upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains, remove dust under cabinets, beds and where seasonal clothes are stored. The vacuum cleaner bag must be thrown away immediately and replaced with a new one.
Expensive bedding can be taken to a dry cleaner, they will tell you at what temperature pests die and process the items.
Chemical method
Chemical methods of combating bed mites include special preparations, which can be purchased at household chemical stores, and disinfection of the premises. Disinfection of apartments and houses is carried out by special services; spraying strong drugs on your own is strongly not recommended.
Natural method
Natural methods are regular wet cleaning, ventilation of rooms, change of linen and bedding.
Doctor's opinion
Encephalitis is a very dangerous disease. It is impossible to predict whether a tick that has bitten a person will carry it or not. For this reason, vaccination is recommended. Vaccinations are given to adults and children. The full course allows you to obtain immunity from the disease for 3 years. Then revaccination is carried out. The measure must be taken for residents of areas where large outbreaks of the disease are detected. The vaccination schedule is drawn up by the therapist. Domestic and foreign drugs are used for vaccination.
If a person is nevertheless bitten, the tick must be immediately removed and then sent to a medical facility. The arthropod is then sent to the laboratory for analysis. If it turns out that the tick was not a carrier of the pathology, no additional treatment measures are taken. However, a person may be offered a vaccination. A timely response to what happened will protect a person from possible negative consequences.
Are tick larvae dangerous?
The tick goes through several stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Many people believe that ticks are dangerous only at the stage of sexual maturity, but this is not entirely true. Both the nymph and the larva are capable of moving independently, albeit over short distances. The easiest prey for them is small rodents. But they still pose a threat to humans.
Even tick eggs can be dangerous. Ticks are not born with the virus, they receive it. This can be done in two ways: by biting an infected victim or together with the mother’s blood. In the second case, even the tick eggs are already infected.
Even though they cannot attack on their own, there is still a threat. The female lays her eggs in a dark, secluded place, but she often does this on grass and leaves. And in turn, livestock chews the grass and leaves. Thus, the eggs can penetrate the animal’s body and then it becomes a carrier. This largely applies to cows and goats. Milk from a cow with the pathogen will also be contaminated. The only way to kill the virus is by boiling it.
Food for thought...
As part of the project about the dangers of the spring-summer period, a consultation is required for moms and dads on this topic. I will tell you about the types of ticks, where they live, how best to dress for the forest and, most importantly, what to do if a tick does stick to a person’s skin.
When a bloodsucker is discovered, already clearly visible because it has already drunk blood, it is important not to panic or do anything stupid. You cannot rip it off, otherwise insect particles may remain in the skin, and if it is infected, then the person will become infected. If you remove the bastard correctly, then the likelihood of disease is minimal.
How to remove: it’s best to use a thread; you can always pull it out of your clothes somehow. We make a loop and put it on the tick, gradually pull it up and carefully pull it out. If you have tweezers, great, grab the “animal” with it and twist it around its axis and twist it out of the skin.
The most reasonable thing is to stock up on thread, tweezers and iodine for your walk in order to lubricate the bite site after removing the tick. By the way, there is a special device for removing insects, I don’t remember the name, but you can find it on the Internet. It looks like a fork; we place a tick between the teeth and twist it.
A rather controversial method of removal is using sunflower oil. Say, we pour it on the tick, it suffocates and releases its grip. But doctors are against this method.
The aerosol also helps protect against ticks; it is also available for sale. Better yet, if your area is “tick-dangerous” and you have to work in plantings and forests due to your occupation, or you are a tourism fan, then get vaccinated. You sometimes look at your local newspaper and know how often there are cases of tick infection in your region. So think about whether there is any point in vaccination or whether the usual precautions will do.
So, it seems like we were talking about ticks. Time to say good-bye! Subscribe, share, well, you know, right?
Sincerely, Tatyana Sukhikh! Till tomorrow!
By the way, I recommend reading:
Saprophytes
These are arthropods that feed on decaying organic matter. Saprophytic mites are relatively harmless. Most of them process rotting organic matter, improving soil quality like earthworms. But the “dust allergy” known to many is actually due to the presence of dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae in the home.
These are microscopic creatures measuring 0.1-0.5 mm. They feed on epidermal scales, particles of fallen hair and animal fur, and waste products.
“Dust allergy” is actually caused not by house dust, but by the excrement of dust mites and particles of the shells of dead arthropods. Dermatophagoides farinae live in uncollected dust in corners and under furniture, in sofas, pillows, and mattresses. To get rid of this type of arachnid, regular thorough cleaning and treatment of upholstered furniture is carried out.
We carry out educational work among the population...
I don’t know why this tick has become so active in the last decade, which is scary not because of its bite, but because of its ability to become infected with extremely dangerous diseases for humans. I think they are conducting some kind of experiments on you and me: either incredible types of flu appear, or some other nasty thing. Before, believe me, as a resident of the Siberian region rich in flora and fauna, no one was particularly afraid of ticks, since there were no cases of infection.
And now spring has come and there is a campaign about ways to protect against little reptiles. What do you think happened to our planet?
Since preschool children, I hope, do not walk through the forest and plantings on their own, but only accompanied by adults, an introductory conversation “Caution! Ticks! In particular, I tell children accessible information about these insects, where they live, and why they are dangerous.
Children just need to know that if after a walk in the forest or park they have itching in the head, behind the ear, in the armpit, then they definitely need to tell their mother about it.
Under no circumstances should you remove the tick yourself; only an adult should help remove the bloodsucker.
We deliver the main information “blow” to moms and dads by preparing folders, thematic stands, health bulletins, etc. for parents. The main thing you need to know is how to minimize the possibility of encountering a tick and what to do if it manages to stick to the skin.
On sale you can buy a ready-made colorful poster or a whole booklet with texts and pictures about the “bloodsuckers”. Purchased materials are perfect for a stand, and you don’t need to bother. But if you want to do something unusual for a group or school class, you need to involve children and parents in the process of creating an information corner.
Where and when can you become infected with tick-borne encephalitis?
You can become infected with tick-borne encephalitis during the active season of ticks in any epidemically dangerous region where these parasites live. A bite with transmission of infection can occur:
- In the park, in vacant lots between houses;
- In the garden, in the garden, on the plot;
- In the forest or on the river bank;
- In a meadow, pasture during a hike or picnic;
- In a mountain valley (for example, in Altai or Sayan Mountains).
The main conditions for the existence and activity of ticks are the presence of grass, in which they hide and from which they attack people, as well as various shelters on the ground - leaves, pieces of wood, stones, just cracks. The higher the grass in a particular place and the more shelters on the ground, the more ticks there are, as a rule, and the higher the likelihood of their attacks.
Also, the likelihood of bites is higher in wild areas where there are a large number of different tick hosts (rodents, insectivores and ungulates).
The tick-borne encephalitis virus does not pose a threat to the tick and does not kill it. Therefore, being infected at any stage of its life cycle, a tick can pose a danger to humans for the rest of its life.
The peak incidence of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease coincides with the peaks of tick activity in nature. The greatest number of infections is recorded from May to July, and in warm and hot weather the parasites are most active and the most bites occur.
Memo for parents
Tick-borne encephalitis can be contracted not only by a tick bite, but also by drinking fresh milk. Goats suffer from encephalitis, contracting it from ticks, and viral particles spread throughout their body and enter the milk. Consuming such milk without heat treatment can cause infection. Cows, unlike goats, do not suffer from encephalitis, but the virus can also penetrate into their milk from biting ticks.
