Ticks – tick bite: tweezers or map – that’s the question here

Steffen, you are now hearing more about tick bonds in Berlin. I thought these animals occurred especially in southern Germany.

This is a misconception. There have always been ticks all over Germany. Another cause is that the southern Germany finds a special mention.

And that would be?

That the ticks that occur there can transmit an acutely dangerous infectious disease: so-called early summer meningitis, a meningitis caused by viruses. In the past, this meningitis has occurred primarily in southern Germany.

What can you do about this inflammation?

It is usually difficult to treat. However, there is an effective vaccination. And in risk areas such as in southern Saxony, in the eastern Brandenburg, in Bavaria and partly in Thuringia, it is recommended to be vaccinated against it.

Dr. Schmidt explains the world

Dr. Steffen SchmidtBorn in 1952, the universal scholar of the editorial team is. He knows an answer to almost every question – and if not, he answers another. Christian Klemm spoke to him about ticks.

And ticks that do not carry this virus are harmless?

No.

What can they transmit?

In the United States, it is assumed that about 16 different diseases can be transmitted from the ticks that occur there. With us in Germany, this is above all the so -called borreliosis. This is a bacterial infection that is usually comparatively harmless. But when it becomes chronic, damage to the large joints or nerves can occur.

Is there a vaccination against it?

Jein. We have a problem with the Borrelia: in Europe there is a greater variety of bacterial strains than in the USA. A variant of this bacterium essentially dominates there, so that they have a reasonably functioning vaccine there. While it has looked bad with us because of the diversity. A vaccine is currently being developed to immunize several bacterial strains. It remains to be seen when this can be used.

What does a tick bite look like?

Unlike mosquito bites, he does not itch. But the animal is relatively easy to see on the skin. In the event of a borrelia infection, the so -called wandering blush is usually shown in the early stages. This means that a red ring spreads around the puncture. And then it is worth initiating antibiotic treatment. But you just have to know in good time whether you are infected.

Understand. When I discover a tick on myself – do I pull it out or do I have to go to the doctor?

You can do that yourself. You get a tick tweezer. It is built in such a way that you don’t squeeze the tick when you pull it out. There are also so -called tick cards. They resemble a check card, but have a kind of slit on a corner that you push under the tick and pull the animal off.

If I notice the tick early, then the risk of Lyme disease or meningitis is low, right?

The probability of an infection is then low. But if you watch the rush, go to the doctor.