Dangerous ticks

Their activity depends on the ambient temperature and they only wait for the "first" warmth. Theyusually become active at the turn of March and April. This year, however, due to the warm winter, their activity started already in February.

What we know about them

Ticks usually live in green areas - forests, meadows, squares, parks. They can also be found in home gardens. They feed on blood, therefore they are equipped with a blood-sucking mouthparts with numerous teeth positioned in the opposite direction to the direction of entry, which makes it possible for the tick to attach itself to the human skin. During blood sucking, the tick injects saliva into the tissues of the person, with which pathogenic microorganisms enter.

Why they are dangerous

As ticks transmit both viruses, bacteria and protozoa, they act as vectors of numerous diseases known as tick-borne diseases. The main tick-borne diseases in Poland are borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis.

Borreliosis is a multisystem disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Sometimes it can be unnoticed or underestimated in its early stage, e.g. erythema at the site of the bite, but it develops further attacking other organs.

There is no vaccine against borreliosis, so all that remains is prevention, i.e. the use of effective methods to prevent tick bites.

Perform laboratory tests for Lyme disease:

• If you have ever been bitten by a tick
• You are at risk of tick exposure due to the nature of your work
• You have been stung by a tick and suspect infection
• You have symptoms of Lyme disease but do not remember being bitten by a tick

Remember that early diagnosis is very important!

It determines faster treatment and inhibition of the disease!

TBE is a systemic infection caused by the TBE virus transmitted through the bite of an infectedtick. The disease is dangerous because the first symptoms are uncharacteristic and flu-like, often disappearing after a few days. In a percentage of patients, usually a week after the disappearance of the fever, the second phase of the disease begins - the involvement of the central nervous system.

A vaccine protects against tick-borne encephalitis. A full course of vaccination consists of 3 doses administered at intervals. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, after which immunity is obtained for 3-5 years. The vaccination can be performed at our facilities.

In the context of approaching holidays and holidays, but also short weekend trips out of the city to the countryside, it is worth considering this possibility and protect yourself and your children from this dangerous disease. The vaccination can be carried out in our facilities.