Contact your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms – this may be tick-borne encephalitis

According to ULAC data, in July this year, 136 cases of tick-borne encephalitis and 560 cases of Lyme disease had been detected in Lithuania. Last year, 99 cases of tick-borne encephalitis and 544 cases of Lyme disease were recorded in the first six months of the year. Throughout the past year, 6 people died of tick-borne encephalitis in the first six months of this year – 1.

According to epidemiologist A. Bartulienė, infection rates in Lithuania remain high, although the number of vaccinators is growing. Morbidity is not decreasing, possibly due to the prevailing vegetation and humid climate in Lithuania.

“Lithuania is a favorable country for the spread of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease due to the number of wet and forested areas, therefore people must use protective measures: vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis” , said the epidemiologist.

Diseases are not easy to recognize.

According to the epidemiologist, to protect yourself, it is important not only to be vaccinated, but also to know the first symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis.

“The symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis are often reminiscent of the flu. Muscles, headaches, discomfort and fever may appear. If a person has not been vaccinated and started to feel symptoms, they should immediately consult a family doctor, – said A. Bartulienė.

– The symptom of Lyme disease is clear. 80 percent. people learn about “trapped” Lyme disease from a point of spread. This is the first and one of the most common symptoms of Lyme disease. If a redness of about 3-5 centimeters occurs at the site of the tick bite, which increases with time, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Your doctor will definitely prescribe antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. “

Infection with Lyme disease can lead to other ailments. There may be a slight increase in temperature, muscle pain. However, it is possible that health problems do not occur, that a person feels good and that the place goes unnoticed. As a result, the doctor says it is very important to monitor your health and take good care of yourself for 30 days after the tick is swallowed, and to test after the first symptoms. Admittedly, antibody tests in Lyme disease often show only 4-6 weeks after tick-borne encephalitis, after about 3 weeks. However, according to the doctor, it is okay to see a doctor right away since the tests can always be repeated.

How to defend against ticks?

Ticks like humid places, so they generally live in deciduous forests, tall grass, or where leaves have fallen. Such conditions are ideal for them, so now in the woods, when mushrooms, mushrooms, berries appear, it is necessary to think about clothes.

According to the epidemiologist, proper clothing, even when walking in the woods, wading through tall grass, can help prevent ticks from infesting. A. Bartulienė advises wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, tying pants with socks, wearing rubber boots.

“Wearing light clothing is also recommended, because light clothing can detect a speckled mark faster. It is also recommended to use repellents and tick repellents. However, before using them, it is important to ensure that they affect not only mosquitoes, but also ticks, ”recalled A. Bartulienė.

One important thing that A. Bartulienė suggested not to forget upon returning from the forest is to shake the clothes that we were in nature with: “It is important to shake the clothes that we were wearing in the forest and leave it in a sunny place. Ticks are very afraid of the heat, because when they are in a sunny place, they just dry up and die. “

The epidemiologist reiterated that it is very important to examine yourself, ask someone else to do it, and check your back. The observed mite should be removed as soon as possible.

The mite must be removed quickly so that it does not release potentially portable viruses and bacteria into the bloodstream. It should be held in forceps as close to the skin of the body as possible and removed with a sudden movement, disinfecting the bite site. Monitor your well-being and your bite site for a month.