What should I do if bitten by a tick

If tick suction does occur, an initial consultation can always be obtained by calling 03.

To remove the tick, you will most likely be sent to the regional SES or regional emergency room.

If you do not have the opportunity to seek help from a medical facility, then you will have to remove the tick yourself.

It is convenient to remove ticks with curved tweezers or a surgical clamp; in principle, any other tweezers will do. In this case, the tick must be grabbed as close to the proboscis as possible, then it is carefully pulled up, while rotating around its axis in a convenient direction. Usually, after 1-3 turns, the entire tick is removed along with the proboscis. If you try to pull the tick out, there is a high probability of it breaking.

There are special devices for removing ticks.

These devices have an advantage over clamps or tweezers, since the body of the tick is not compressed, squeezing the contents of the tick into the wound is prevented, this reduces the risk of contracting tick-borne infections.

If you have neither tweezers nor special devices at hand, then the tick can be removed using a thread.

A strong thread is tied into a knot as close as possible to the tick's proboscis, then the tick is removed by slowly swinging and pulling it up. Sudden movements are unacceptable - the tick will burst.

If, when removing the tick, its head comes off, which looks like a black dot, wipe the suction site with cotton wool or a bandage moistened with alcohol, and then remove the head with a sterile needle (previously calcined in a fire) in the same way as you remove an ordinary splinter.

Some far-fetched advice about what to better removal Ointment dressings or oil solutions should be applied to the attached tick. The oil can clog the tick's respiratory openings and the tick will die, remaining in the skin. After removing the tick, the skin at the site of its attachment is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol. A bandage is usually not required.

What are the dangers of a tick bite?

Even if the tick bite was short-lived, the risk of contracting tick-borne infections cannot be ruled out.

The tick can be a source of quite large quantity diseases, therefore, after removing the tick, save it for testing for infection with tick-borne infections (tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis, if possible, for other infections), this can usually be done in an infectious diseases hospital; on our website for a number of cities there are addresses of laboratories.

The tick should be placed in a small glass bottle along with a piece of cotton wool lightly moistened with water. Be sure to close the bottle with a tight cap and store it in the refrigerator. For microscopic diagnosis, the tick must be delivered to the laboratory alive. Even individual tick fragments are suitable for PCR diagnostics. However, the latter method is not widespread even in large cities.

You need to understand that the presence of an infection in a tick does not mean that a person will get sick. A tick analysis is needed for peace of mind in case of a negative result and vigilance in case of a positive result.

The surest way to determine the presence of the disease is to take a blood test. There is no need to donate blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. No earlier than 10 days later, you can test your blood for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis using the PCR method. Two weeks after a tick bite, test for antibodies (IgM) to the virus tick-borne encephalitis. For antibodies (IgM) to borrelia (tick-borne borreliosis) - in a month.

Tick-borne encephalitis(see List of areas endemic for tick-borne encephalitis in 2010) - the most dangerous of tick-borne infections (consequences - up to death). Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis should be carried out as early as possible, preferably on the first day.

Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis is carried out using antiviral drugs or immunoglobulin.

Antiviral drugs.

In the Russian Federation this is Yodantipirin for adults and children over 14 years of age.
Anaferon for children is for children under 14 years of age.
If you could not find these drugs, theoretically others can replace them antivirals(cycloferon, arbidol, remantadine).

Immunoglobulin- advisable only during the first three days. Release has been discontinued in European countries. Disadvantages include high cost and frequent allergic reactions.

No earlier than 10 days later, you can test your blood for tick-borne encephalitis using the PCR method. Two weeks after a tick bite, test for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. If a person is vaccinated against the tick-borne encephalitis virus, no action needs to be taken.

Tick-borne borreliosis- a dangerous disease that often occurs covertly, but if it becomes chronic, it leads to disability. Distributed throughout almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation, transmitted by ticks. Emergency prevention of tick-borne borreliosis in an adult can be carried out by drinking one tablet of doxycycline (200 mg) no later than 72 hours after the tick bite; in a child over 8 years old - 4 mg per 1 kg of weight, but not more than 200 mg. Emergency prophylaxis is not provided for children under 8 years of age and pregnant women. Regardless of whether emergency prevention of tick-borne borreliosis was carried out or not, you should donate blood for antibodies to tick-borne borreliosis (IgM). It is better to take the test 3-4 weeks after the tick bite; earlier it makes no sense - it will be negative. If the result is positive, or redness appears at the site of the tick bite a few days after the bite, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist. Tick-borne borreliosis in the early stages can be treated very quickly.

Hemorrhagic fevers, a group of naturally focal viral diseases transmitted from animals to humans, united by common clinical signs - increased temperature (fever), subcutaneous and internal hemorrhages. Depending on the causative agent, as well as on the method of spreading the infection, several types are distinguished.

Crimean hemorrhagic fever occurs in sporadic cases in southern steppe regions Russian Federation - Crimea, Taman Peninsula, Rostov region, Southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, as well as in Bulgaria, i.e. where ixodid ticks (Hyalomma) are common. Infection occurs in the spring and summer. The incubation period is 2-7 days. The pathogen is detected in the blood of patients throughout the febrile period. Convalescent blood serum has specific antiviral properties.

Omsk hemorrhagic fever was first described among residents of lakeside villages in Siberia, among hunters and members of their families, in the Barabinsk steppe. Natural foci of Omsk hemorrhagic fever were found in the Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Tyumen and Orenburg regions. It is possible that they are also present in some neighboring territories (Northern Kazakhstan, Altai and Krasnoyarsk region). It occurs in the autumn-winter period in the form of outbreaks that are associated with epizootics in commercial animals. The main vectors of the disease are Dermacentor ticks. The incubation period is 3-7 days. In humans, the virus is detected throughout the febrile period. Currently, cases of the disease are reported extremely rarely.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(hemorrhagic nephroso-nephritis) occurs in Europe and Asia in the form of group outbreaks and sporadic (single) cases. The transmission mechanism is not well understood; the possibility of transmission through gamasid ticks has been suggested. Natural foci can form in various landscapes (forest, steppe, tundra). The reservoir of infection is some types of mouse-like rodents. The incubation period is 11-24 days. Yodantipyrine can be used for emergency prevention of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

About tick bites in questions and answers

Q: I was bitten by a tick, what should I do?
A: Read the article: “What to do if you are bitten by a tick”; the issues discussed in the article will not be discussed below.

V.: How to find out Tick-borne Encephalitis or not?
A: Tick-borne encephalitis is a virus that is carried by ixodid ticks - but not every tick carries it. By appearance It is impossible to determine whether a tick is encephalitic or not - this can only be done in a laboratory. In almost all cities where there is a risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis, it is possible to have a tick tested (usually the tick can be tested for other infections common in the region). Our website contains the addresses and telephone numbers of such laboratories for a number of cities.

Q: I took the tick off myself, it looks like it just started to attach itself, is there a risk of getting sick and with what?
A: The risk of getting tick-borne infections exists even with a short period of tick suction.

It is not possible to unequivocally answer the question of what one can become infected with, since different regions Ticks carry various infections.
The most dangerous disease Tick-borne encephalitis is considered to be transmitted by ticks; annually Rospotrebnadzor publishes lists of territories of the Russian Federation endemic for tick-borne encephalitis; unfortunately, such information is not published for other infections.
Tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme) is a very insidious disease, as it often occurs hidden, becomes chronic and leads to disability. Ticks infected with Borrelia are found to a greater or lesser extent in most of the territories of the Russian Federation, as well as in the countries of Europe, Asia and North America. A common sign of tick-borne borreliosis at the initial stage is the appearance of migratory ring-shaped erythema at the site of tick suction.
IN southern regions In Russia, the most dangerous tick-borne disease is Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

There are other diseases, so if you feel worse, consult a doctor immediately.

Q: I was bitten by a tick, two weeks have passed since the bite, I felt fine, but today I have a fever, what should I do?

A: Poor health may not be associated with a tick bite, but exclude tick-borne infections it is forbidden. Be sure to consult a doctor.

Redness of the tick bite site

V.: We removed the tick, the bite site turned red almost immediately. What does it mean?

A: Most likely, this is an allergic reaction to the bite; inspect the bite site daily; if you notice an enlargement of the spot, soreness of the bite site, or a deterioration in general health, consult a doctor.

V.: The tick was removed, but after a few days the bite site became swollen and painful to touch.

A: You need to see a surgeon.

V.: We removed the tick, at first the bite site was a little red, then the redness went away, and today, two weeks after the bite, it turned red again.

A: You should see an infectious disease doctor. Very often, the early stage of tick-borne borreliosis is accompanied by the appearance of migratory ring erythema at the site of the bite.

Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis

V.: I live in a region where tick-borne encephalitis is endemic. Yesterday I was bitten by a tick, noticed it in the evening, immediately removed it and took it to the laboratory for analysis. Today they called from the laboratory and said that a tick-borne encephalitis virus had been found in the tick and that I needed to take a course of iodantipyrine. What else can be done to prevent tick-borne encephalitis? Very worried.
A: There is no need to worry too much, since a bite from an infected tick does not mean that a person will get sick (even without prevention). Yodantipyrine, along with immunoglobulin, is approved for use for emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis - its effectiveness has been proven. You can also recommend a balanced diet during the incubation period of TBE, try to avoid any stressful situations for the body (overheating, hypothermia, severe physical activity etc.).

V.: I was bitten by a tick, I threw it out, and now I’m worried that maybe the tick was encephalitic. When can I get my blood tested?
A: There is no point in donating blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. No earlier than 10 days later, you can test your blood for tick-borne encephalitis using the PCR method. After two weeks, test for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Q: I'm pregnant (10 weeks). Bitten by a tick - what to do to prevent tick-borne encephalitis?
A: No studies have been conducted on the effect of immunoglobulin and iodantipyrine on the fetus, so pregnancy is a contraindication to them. Both drugs are prescribed by a doctor according to strict indications, when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. Many doctors recommend simply monitoring how you feel - most people who are bitten by a tick infected with tick-borne encephalitis do not get sick.

V.: A tick bit me one year old child. What can be done to prevent tick-borne encephalitis?

A.: For emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis in children, immunoglobulin or anaferon for children is used.

Q: I was bitten by a tick, I am vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis, what should I do to prevent it?

A: Vaccination is the most reliable protection against tick-borne encephalitis. You don’t need to take anything for prevention - you already have immunity.

V.: A week ago I was diagnosed with tick-borne encephalitis immunoglobulin, and today I was bitten by a tick again. Should I be concerned about tick-borne encephalitis?

A: The introduction of immunoglobulin creates immunity; it is weaker than with vaccination, but can protect for some time (usually up to 1 month) from tick-borne encephalitis. That is, in your case you don’t have to worry about FE.

V.: I took yodantipyrine as a prophylactic (before a tick bite) regimen. I was bitten by a tick, what should I do, what regimen should I take iodantipirin?

A: You should switch to the “after tick suction” scheme.

V.: The tick was most likely removed on the 4th day from the moment of attachment. The tick didn’t survive, I didn’t go anywhere, I feel fine. What should I do to prevent tick-borne encephalitis?

A: You can start taking iodantipyrine (immunoglobulin is ineffective on the third day, and its use is inappropriate on the fourth), although, of course, the time for emergency prophylaxis has already been lost. Monitor your health, and if your condition worsens, consult a doctor.

Q: I’m going on a long hike, and I won’t have the opportunity to see a doctor in case of a tick bite. What do i do?

A: Avoid tick bites - read the article: “Preventing tick bites.” If there are at least 3 weeks before your trip, then it is better to take a course of vaccination - this is The best way prevention of tick-borne encephalitis. If you don’t have time anymore, then take yodantipirin on your hike (you won’t be able to take immunoglobulin with you).

V.: I was bitten by a tick, I pulled it out. I’m very worried, but there’s no way to see a doctor (I’m far from civilization), and there’s no way to buy medicine. What should I do?

A: Most people who do not receive emergency prophylaxis when bitten by a tick infected with tick-borne encephalitis do not get sick. Since you don't even know whether the tick was infected or not, there's no need to panic. Try to find an opportunity to consult a doctor if your health worsens.

When relaxing in nature, parents often find a bloodsucker – a tick – embedded in their child’s body. The bite of this insect can threaten a child with infection quite dangerous infections– and borreliosis (Lyme disease).

Ticks are especially active from May to July, but bites can also occur in other spring and summer months. These blood-sucking insects live in grass and bushes, in parks and forest plantations. Children love to play in the grass, where they can get bitten by the “villain”. Ticks can be brought into living quarters by pets or on clothing, picked berries, mushrooms, bouquets of flowers.

Means of protection

To prevent tick bites, it is recommended that your child wear clothes and shoes for a walk or outdoor recreation that cover all parts of the body as much as possible. On a hot summer day, putting a “space suit” on a child is also not easy - this can lead to a disruption of heat exchange and heat stroke.

Children over 2 years old can be vaccinated against. Before vaccination, the child must be healthy for a month and undergo an examination. In addition, you can use special protective drugs: repellents that repel ticks from children. The products can only be used after 3 years due to their high toxicity. You can purchase these drugs in pharmacies.

Repellents are an important part of protecting against ticks.

Repellents for children include: “Off-Children”, “Efkalat”, “Fthalar” creams, “Medilisik for children against mosquitoes” aerosol, “Biban-gel”, “Evital”, “Pikhtal” colognes, “Kamarant” product. The products are applied to exposed areas of the body and to clothes, which are left outside until dry before dressing.

The protective effect of repellents on clothing lasts up to 5 days. At high humidity air or exposure to rain reduces the effectiveness of the product.

Traditional medicine recommends using essential oils with a pungent odor. They can also be used for small children if they do not have allergies. Clove, mint, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils are suitable for this purpose.

You can prepare a mixture of oils (a few drops of each) or use each separately. Apply oil to exposed areas of the body and edges of clothing every 2 hours.

Every 20 minutes during rest and after the child returns from a walk, it is necessary to carefully examine the scalp and skin. The bite itself is not felt, which is due to the release of an anesthetic substance into the wound. Most often, ticks are found on tender areas of a child’s body (groin, neck, behind the ears, in the back of the head).

The bite site may be indicated by a slight swelling and reddened area of ​​skin with a black dot inside. It may be somewhat painful and accompanied by itching. If you find a tick, you should not panic; you must remove the insect as quickly as possible to prevent possible infection child.

Parental tactics for tick bites

• You can call 03 to clarify the address of the emergency room or sanitary and epidemiological station where the tick will be removed.

• You can remove it yourself. To do this, you should first prepare some kind of antiseptic (, alcohol, etc.), any container with a lid, cotton balls, some tweezers, strong threads.

Before extraction begins, the bite site must be treated with an antiseptic solution. At the pharmacy you can purchase in advance a special device (anti-mite, trix, tick-niper) for removing ticks in the form of small tweezers. But you can use any other tweezers that have been pre-treated with alcohol.

Using tweezers, you need to carefully grab the body of the tick and remove it, making rotational movements counterclockwise. You should not apply force or squeeze the insect, so as not to infect the wound when the body is crushed.

If you don't have tweezers, you need to take strong thread and tie it on the body of the insect closer to the proboscis with a knot near the skin. Then rotate the ends of the thread like a propeller, or carefully remove the tick using rocking movements and place it in a jar with a lid.

If the insect is not completely removed, the remaining parts of it should be removed from the skin with a sterile needle, just as a splinter is removed. After removal, the wound is treated with alcohol (iodine), hands are thoroughly washed and also treated with alcohol.

Craftsmen adapted a disposable sterile syringe to remove a tick, carefully cutting off its top. The syringe must be firmly applied to the bite site and the plunger must be gently pulled up, removing the insect.

Do not lubricate the bite site with oil or kerosene: without air access, the tick will secrete infected fluid into the wound - the risk of infection will increase.

• The jar with the tick should be taken to the sanitary and epidemiological station for examination.

• If a tick infestation is detected or if the area is unfavorable for tick-borne encephalitis, the child is given emergency prophylaxis: anti-tick immunoglobulin is administered as prescribed by the pediatrician (no later than 96 hours from the moment of the bite). The disadvantage of this drug is the frequent occurrence of allergic reactions. Prevention is not carried out if the child is vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.

• For the purpose of prevention, pediatricians can prescribe (Viferon, Anaferon for children under 14 years of age or Yodantipirin for children over 14 years of age). Other antiviral drugs (Cycloferon, Arbidol, Remantadine) can also be used. They are used from the first day of the bite.

• There is currently no vaccine against borreliosis. To prevent this disease, after receiving the results of a tick test, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

• To fully ensure that there is no danger after a tick bite, you can examine the child: in an infectious diseases hospital or in a virology laboratory, donate blood for antibodies to the pathogens of borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis 2-3 weeks after the bite.

• If any symptoms of the disease occur (fever, muscle pain, rashes, etc.), you should immediately consult a doctor.

Summary for parents

It is easier to prevent ticks from penetrating a child's skin. If a tick is still found, it is better to go to the hospital to have it removed, especially in a small child. When uninstalling yourself, you must follow all the above rules tick removal.

TV channel “Belarus 1”, program “Children’s Doctor”, issue topic “What to do if a child is bitten by a tick?”:

You should not neglect sending the insect for research. It is not the bite itself that is dangerous, but the infections that the tick can “reward” the child with. If necessary, a preventive course of treatment should be carried out as prescribed by the pediatrician.

Video on how to properly remove a tick using a thread:

Pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky talks about what to do if you are bitten by a tick:

Summer has already claimed its rights, which means the insidious ticks have already woken up and began to actively attack the population.

What are tick-borne diseases?

Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in the Northern Hemisphere. In Russia, it is found in the forest-steppe zone from Sakhalin to Kaliningrad. The most common and noticeable symptom of borreliosis is redness at the site of the tick bite (erythema), which usually appears no earlier than a week after the bite. The redness increases in size and can reach several tens of centimeters in diameter. In this case, the center may become lighter, and the redness may take the form of a ring. If redness occurs at the time of the bite, then this is most likely not a manifestation of borreliosis, but a reaction to a tick bite.

After removing the tick, this redness quickly disappears. Borrelia erythema, on the contrary, increases. In some patients with borreliosis, the appearance of erythema is not accompanied by changes in well-being. In other patients, on the contrary, the disease can take on a non-erythematous form and manifest itself exclusively by symptoms of general intoxication: fever, chills, headache, body aches, fatigue. Symptoms may gradually fade away, however, this does not mean recovery: the causative agent of the disease, Borrelia, spreads throughout the body and can cause damage nervous system, joints, heart. Borreliosis can become chronic, leading to disability and even death. At an early stage, the disease is easily amenable to antibiotic therapy, so timely treatment medical care plays a crucial role in recovery.

Tick-borne encephalitis is viral infection, characterized by fever, intoxication and damage to the brain, and sometimes spinal cord. The disease can lead to persistent neurological and psychiatric complications and even death of the patient. Traditional areas of distribution of tick-borne encephalitis are Siberia, the Urals, and the Far East. At the same time, cases of infection also occur in middle lane Russia, North-West region, Volga region. In the European part of our country, the incidence ranges from 0.02 to 8 cases per 100 thousand population; in the Moscow region this figure is at the lower limit. Infection occurs as a result of tick bites, and sometimes by eating raw milk of an infected animal (goat or cow), but such cases are extremely rare. The first symptoms of the disease appear on the 7th - 14th day after the bite: fever, malaise, muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting. After this, relief comes, and nothing bothers the patient for 8 days. However, in 20-30% of patients, a second phase follows, accompanied by damage to the central nervous system in the form of meningitis (fever, severe headache, stiff neck muscles), encephalitis (various disturbances of consciousness, sensitivity disorders, motor disorders up to paralysis), or both. The most effective prevention of the development of infection after a tick bite is the administration of anti-tick immunoglobulin (intramuscularly and once). If there are contraindications, the drug Anaferon is used, which increases the formation of interferons in the body. If symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Further treatment will be carried out in the hospital using antiviral immunoglobulins, interferon and ribonuclease drugs. Strict bed rest, a rational diet and vitamin therapy are required.

Tick-borne encephalitis is more dangerous than borreliosis, but the risk of getting borreliosis after a tick bite is much higher than tick-borne encephalitis. It is also important to know that even if you are bitten by a tick carrying the encephalitis virus, this does not mean that you will certainly get sick. A healthy immune system will cope with the virus on its own and quickly. But no matter how confident you are in your immune system, simple precautions must be taken.

Ticks are most dangerous at the beginning of summer. When going into the forest, on a hike, or to the country during this period, be sure to wear a hat, a long-sleeve shirt, and long trousers, which should preferably be tucked into socks. It is best to wear clothes made of dense and smooth fabrics: the tick will have nothing to catch on, and it will not be able to penetrate the skin through the dense fabric.

Open areas of the body and clothing can be treated with special chemicals protection against ticks. They are divided into repellent (repel ticks), acaricidal (killing them) and insecticidal-repellent (combined action preparations). Repellents include “Medilis-from mosquitoes”, “Biban”, “Defi-taiga”, “Off! Extreme”, “Gall-rat”, “Gal-rat-cl”, “Deta-vokko”, “Reftamid maximum”. They are applied to clothing and exposed areas of the body in the form of circular stripes around the knees, ankles and chest. The tick, avoiding contact with the repellent, begins to crawl in the opposite direction. The protective properties of treated clothing last up to five days. The advantage of repellents is that they can be applied not only to clothing, but also to the skin. Treating clothing with acaricidal agents (“Reftamid taiga”, “Picnic-anti-mite”, “Gardex aerosol extreme”, “Tornado-anti-mite”, “Fumitox-anti-mite”, “Gardex-anti-mite”) provides protection against ticks for up to 14 days, however, it should not be applied to the skin. Clothes need to be laid out and sprayed, wait until they dry, and only then put them on. Insecticidal and repellent products are produced in aerosol packages: “Medilis-comfort”, “Kra-rep”, “Moskitol-spray. Special protection against ticks”, “Gardexextrim, anti-tick aerosol”, “Tick-kaput aerosol”. Just like acaricides, insecticidal-repellent agents are applied only to clothing. When using this or that product, be sure to read the instructions and follow their instructions. Do not forget to reapply the product after the time indicated on the package. We must remember that rain, wind, heat, sweat, etc. reduce the duration of action of any chemical protective agent.

When you return from a country trip, carefully examine your clothes and body. A tick bite is almost unnoticeable because the bloodsucker injects an anesthetic into the wound. Most often, the tick bites into the scalp, neck, skin behind the ears, armpits, groin, but it can also end up in any other place. Never crush or pull out a tick, as this may increase the risk of infection. You need to fill the tick and the skin around it with fat, oil or kerosene and wait a little. It is quite possible that after such treatment it will disappear on its own. If this does not happen, you need to try to remove the tick from the skin, preferably using tweezers with slow, smooth movements so that the head does not come off. If the head does come off, it must be removed using a fire-heated needle (like a splinter). After removing the hand and the bite site, it is necessary to disinfect it. Untreated hands should not touch the eyes, mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, or take food with them, as in this case, infection with encephalitis can occur through the gastrointestinal tract. The removed tick should be taken to the laboratory for analysis for the presence of Borrelia and encephalitis virus. It is important to remember that the most effective assistance to the victim is provided in the first 96 hours after the bite.

There is no vaccination against borreliosis, but to prevent tick-borne encephalitis, experts recommend vaccination, especially for those people whose work involves staying in forest and forest-steppe areas of regions for which this disease is endemic. As always, immunization against a disease requires a careful individual approach, assessing the balance of the possible benefits of vaccination and the risk of complications. We have already written more than once that the patient should carefully read the information leaflet from the manufacturer included in the package with vaccine doses, and ensure that medical workers accurately follow all instructions. Why? Yes, here is a relatively recent example.

Last year, in several cities at once - Chelyabinsk, Vologda, Tyumen - children developed severe illness after being vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis with the domestic drug EnceVir. The children complained of fever, weakness and nausea. The head of Rospotrebnadzor Gennady Onishchenko ordered to suspend the use of this vaccine for immunizing children. Based on the results of the inspection, it turned out that the quality of the vaccine met the standard requirements, but the problem was that the schoolchildren were vaccinated with an adult dose of the vaccine. Frankly speaking, the situation is strange: in three (!) cities at once, nurses made the same mistake, mixing up the dosage. However, this way it was or otherwise, and it won’t hurt to carefully study the instructions for use, contraindications, data on drug compatibility, information about possible complications, and at the same time ask a question about the dosage administered to you or your child.

Currently in Russia there are four vaccines for immunization against tick-borne encephalitis, two - domestic production and two are imported. All four vaccines are obtained by reproducing the tick-borne encephalitis virus in the suspended primary structure of chicken embryo cells, and also contain aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant. This means that they should be treated with great caution by those who suffer from allergies and those with a history of neurological diseases. Other general contraindications are pregnancy, acute diseases, as well as chronic ones in the acute stage. The EnceVir vaccine, discussed above, is contraindicated for asthmatics, diabetics, patients with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, blood and connective tissue diseases, rheumatism, and epilepsy.

They usually wait for prey, sitting on the grass or branch of a bush, and very rarely rise to a height of more than a meter. Therefore, they usually cling to a person’s legs and then “crawl” upward in search of convenient place for suction. By dressing properly, you can periodically remove ticks from your clothes, preventing them from “getting to your body.”

How to dress properly to avoid becoming a tick victim

Refuel outerwear into pants, and pants into socks. If there is no hood, wear a hat.

Use chemical protection products

In addition to treating clothing, a protective repellent can be applied to bare areas of the body, which, in addition to tick bites, will protect the treated areas from bites blood-sucking insects.

If you are constantly in a limited area ( country cottage area) where ticks live, then this area can be treated with a special insectoacaricidal agent (for example, "") that kills ticks.

You can read more about chemical protection against ticks and how to use them correctly in the article: "".

Carry out preventive examinations

Rest and overnight

When constructing huts and other shelters in the spring, autumn and winter, it should be remembered that ticks overwinter in forest litter and dry grass and, having warmed up, can attack a person.

Inspect clothing and other items upon returning from a hike

What to do if ticks are indoors

The Institute of Disinfectology does not recommend treating residential premises against ticks (including from a toxicological point of view); the instructions for use of any acaricidal agent say: “treatment against ticks only in natural areas.”

If ticks are found in the room, carpets should be removed from the floor and thoroughly cleaned using a vacuum cleaner.

Special clothing for protection against ticks

More than half a million victims of tick bites seek medical help in Russia every year, 100 thousand of whom are children.

Every year, up to 10 thousand cases of tick-borne encephalitis are registered in Russia.

The maximum peak of infection with tick-borne encephalitis occurs in spring and summer.
People who have recovered from tick-borne encephalitis develop lifelong immunity to this disease.

Often tick-borne encephalitis leaves behind unpleasant consequences. In cases of severe forms of the disease, people die or become disabled.

How does a bite and infection occur?

The tick bites through the skin and inserts a special harpoon-like outgrowth of the pharynx (hypostome) into the wound. A kind of harpoon is covered with teeth that hold the tick, so it is not so easy to pull it out.

In the case of tick-borne encephalitis, the virus enters the human blood through the saliva of the tick. Immediately from the moment of the bite, the virus enters the victim’s body. Therefore, even quick removal of a tick does not exclude infection with tick-borne encephalitis.

In the case of borreliosis, bacteria accumulate in the tick's gastrointestinal tract and begin to be released into the victim's body the moment the tick begins to feed. This usually happens 4-5 hours after the bite. Therefore, timely tick removal can prevent infection.

It is worth noting that not all ixodid ticks are contagious. However, a tick infected with the tick-borne encephalitis virus retains it throughout its life.

The most common diseases transmitted through a tick bite

Disease	The causative agent of the disease	Tick ​​vector	What does it look like?
Tick-borne encephalitis	Virus from the Flavaviridae family	Ixodid ticks: I. ricinus, I. persicatus
Ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease)	Spirochete -Borrelia burgdoferi	Ixodid ticks: , I. persicatus (Europe, Asia) I. scapularis, I. pacificus ( North America)
Crimean hemorrhagic fever	Virus of the Nairovirus genus, Bunyavirus family	Ticks sort ofHyaloma N. marginatum H. punctata, D. marginatus, R. rossicus

Where is tick-borne encephalitis most common?

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis

General symptoms:

• Chills
• Feeling hot
• Pain in the eyeballs
• Photophobia
• Muscle pain
• Pain in bones, joints
• Headache
• Vomit
• Possible seizures, more common in children
• Lethargy
• Drowsiness
• Excitability (rare)
• The patient has red eyes, face, neck, top part torso.

Forms of meningitis

• Feverish form develops in half of the cases of the disease (40-50%). Characterized by fever lasting 5-6 days (38-40 C and above). After the temperature drops, the condition improves, but general weakness may persist for another 2-3 weeks. In most cases, the disease ends in complete recovery.
• Meningeal form the most common form (50-60%). It is characterized by severe symptoms of general intoxication and symptoms of inflammation of the meninges. Symptoms of general intoxication: high temperature over 38 C, chills, feeling hot, sweating, headache of varying intensity. Symptoms of inflammation of the meninges: nausea, frequent vomiting, headache, decreased elasticity of neck muscles. Possible: facial asymmetry, different pupils, impaired movement of the eyeballs, etc. Recovery is slower than with the febrile form. Over the course of 3-4 weeks, symptoms such as weakness and irritability are characteristic. tearfulness, etc. The development of a chronic form of the disease is possible.
• Focal form– has the most severe course. Characterized by high temperature, severe intoxication, the appearance of impaired consciousness, delirium, hallucinations, disorientation in time and space, convulsions, impaired respiratory and cardiac activity. Most often it becomes chronic.
• Chronic form the disease develops several months or even years after the acute period of the disease. The chronic form occurs in 1-3% of patients. The disease is characterized by constant muscle twitching in the face, neck, shoulder girdle, frequent attacks of convulsions with loss of consciousness. The functions of the limbs, mainly the upper ones, decrease, their tone and tendon reflexes decrease. The psyche is disrupted to the point of dementia.

Forecast

Ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease)

How does infection occur?

Symptoms of the disease will depend on the stage of the disease. In total, 3 stages can be distinguished: 1) early stage, 2) stage of spread of infection 3) stage of chronic infection

1. Early stage

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Temperature increase
• Chills
• Pain and aches in muscles and joints
• General weakness
• Possible symptoms of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract(sore throat, cough, etc.).

Specific symptoms:

• The appearance at the site of the bite of a special redness, usually ring-shaped, (erythema migrans), which expands to the sides over the course of several days.

• Joint pain

1. Stage of infection spread(appears 2-3 weeks or 2-3 months after infection)

• Defeat nervous system: Inflammation of the nerve roots of the cranial nerves, the roots emerging from the spinal cord, which is manifested by lumbar pain, pain in the face along the nerves, etc.
• Defeat hearts: rhythm disturbance, development of myocarditis, pericarditis.
• Defeat skin: transient red rashes on the skin.
• Less commonly affected are: eyes (conjunctivitis, iritis, etc.), respiratory organs (bronchitis, tracheitis, etc.), genitourinary system (orchitis, etc.).

1. Chronic infection stage(manifestations occur 6 months or more after infection)

• Damage to the nervous system: disruption of thinking processes, memory loss, etc.
• Joint damage: joint inflammation (arthritis), chronic polyarthritis.
• Skin lesions: appearance of nodular, tumor-like elements, etc.

Forecast

Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Symptoms of the disease

1. Initial period (duration 3-4 days)

• Sudden rise in temperature
• Strong headache
• Pain and aches throughout the body, especially in the lumbar region
• Sharp general weakness
• Nausea, vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Dizziness
• In severe cases, impaired consciousness

1. The peak period of the disease

• Temperature decreases for 24-36 hours, then increases again, and after 6-7 days decreases again
• The appearance of pinpoint subcutaneous hemorrhages (petechial rash) on the lateral surfaces of the abdomen, chest
• Bleeding gums
• Bloody discharge from the eyes, ears
• Nasal, gastrointestinal, uterine bleeding
• Sharp deterioration general condition
• Liver enlargement
• Lower blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Lethargy, confusion
• Face, neck, eyes red
• Jaundice

1. Recovery period (duration from 1-2 months to 1-2 years)

• Weakness
• Increased fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Heartache
• Redness of the eyes, mucous membranes of the mouth and throat
• Decreased blood pressure and heart rate variability (lasts for 2 weeks)

Forecast

Diagnosis of diseases

First aid for a tick bite

What should you not do if you are bitten by a tick?

• Remove ticks with bare hands. Through wounds on the skin, the virus secreted by the tick can easily enter the body and cause disease. You should use gloves, tweezers, a plastic bag or other available means that can protect the skin and mucous membranes.
• Do not touch your eyes and mucous membranes of your mouth and nose if you have been in contact with a tick.
• Do not drip oil, glue or other substances that cover the tick's respiratory opening, which is located in the back of its body. Lack of oxygen makes the tick aggressive, and it greater strength begins to spill into the victim’s body everything that is inside, including viruses and harmful microorganisms.
• Do not crush or sharply pull out a tick that has been sucked in. Pressure on the tick's digestive tract causes its saliva to be injected into the skin, thereby increasing the risk of infection. Trying to pull out a tick, you can tear it apart, then the parts remaining in the skin can become inflamed and fester. In addition, the glands and ducts remaining in the skin contain a significant concentration of the virus and can continue to infect a person.

How to remove a tick: what to do, how and why?

What to do?	How?	For what?
1.Take precautions	Do not touch the tick with bare hands. Wear gloves and use plastic bag or other available means.	The saliva secreted by a tick often contains viruses and bacteria; if it gets on damaged skin, infection can occur.
2. Remove the tick	Methods: 1.Using special device(Tick Twister, The Tickkey, Ticked-Off , Trix Tick Lasso , Anti-mite, etc.) 2. Using thread 3. Using tweezers	The correct methods for removing a tick are based on the fact that the tick should be twisted out of the skin, and not pulled out. Because the part where the tick bites into the skin is covered with spines. The spines are directed in the opposite direction from the tick's movement. Thus, when trying to pull out a tick, there is a high probability that part of its body will remain in the skin. Rotational movements roll the spines along the axis of rotation and the risk of tearing off the tick's head is significantly reduced.
Method using specially designed devices
Tick ​​Twister
Trix Tick Lasso
The Tickkey
Ticked-Off
Anti-mite
Method using thread Take a thin thread (sometimes you can use long strong hair) and make a loop. Place a loop over the tick and shade it at the very base. Then, holding the ends of the thread, pulling it a little, slowly and carefully begin to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. After making a few rotations, the tick is freely removed.
Method using tweezers Use tweezers to carefully grasp the head of the tick, so as not to put pressure on its abdomen. Then you begin to turn the tick, as if you were twisting it, but do not pull or yank too much.
3. Remove the remains of the tick from the wound (if it was not possible to remove it entirely)	Disinfect the needle (with an alcohol solution or hydrogen peroxide), or better yet, sterilize it by holding it over a flame. Then carefully remove the remains.	The development of an inflammatory process and suppuration is possible. Additionally, remaining glands and ducts inside the skin may contain viruses and continue to infect the body.
4. Treat the bite site	You can use any antiseptic: alcohol, iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, etc.	Prevents inflammation and suppuration of the wound. Hydrogen peroxide can also help in removing mite residues, if any.
5. Vaccine administration	Tick-borne encephalitis: Administration of immunoglobulin for the first time 3 days after the bite. Inject intramuscularly 0.1 ml per 1 kg of weight. Administration of an antiviral drug (yodantipyrine for adults, anaferon for children). Yodantipyrine – 2 tablets. within 2 days.	Immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis: high price, frequent allergic reactions, low effectiveness, European countries do not produce. Yodantipyrine - the drug is well tolerated, has low toxicity, and is effective against the tick-borne encephalitis virus. It is prescribed for both prevention and treatment.
6. Send the tick for analysis	Place the removed tick in an airtight container.	This will help determine the tactics of further treatment. Will save you from unwanted complications.

Preventing tick bites

• Reduce the number of unprotected exposed areas of the body to a minimum. Clothing should have long sleeves that fit snugly at the wrist. Wear a hat. Tuck your trousers into high boots.
• To repel ticks, you can use special repellents (DEFI-Taiga, Gall-RET, Biban, etc.). For children Od “Ftalar” and “Efkalat” “Off-children”, etc. However, their effectiveness is highly controversial.
• When moving through the forest, stay in the middle of the paths, avoiding tall grass and bushes.
• After leaving the potentially dangerous area, be sure to examine yourself and your loved ones. Once on the body, the tick does not immediately dig into the skin. It may take several hours for the bite to occur. Therefore, in many cases the bite can be avoided.
• You should not bring recently picked grass, branches, or outer clothing that could potentially contain ticks into the room.
• To prevent tick-borne encephalitis, it is necessary to be vaccinated. Vaccination of 3 vaccinations, followed by repetition after 4, 6 and 12 months. Or the introduction of immunoglobulin several hours before entering the danger zone. When you are in places associated with possible tick bites, it is recommended to take 1 tablet. (200 mg) iodantipyrine.
• When going to an area where ticks are found, be as “armed” as possible, take all the necessary things that you will need in case of a tick bite. Necessary equipment: a device for removing a tick, a disinfectant (iodine, alcohol, etc.), an antiviral drug (Yodantipyrin), a container for transporting the tick for analysis. There are special kits on sale: “Anti-mite module”, “mini-anti-mite module”, etc., which include everything that is necessary for “anti-mite activity”.