Tick season: How to protect children and yourself and what to do if you find a tick

Ticks and their occurrence in nature

Ticks are small insects that can be an inseparable part of our walks in parks, forests, meadows, or gardens during warm months. They are most often found in grass, on tree leaves, and bushes up to about 1 meter above the ground. Their occurrence intensifies with warmer weather, especially after rainy days. In recent years, experts have warned about their overpopulation and the need for prevention as the risk of disease transmission rises.

It's important to remember that ticks are not only found in dense forests – they also like to stay near lake shores, in city parks, or home gardens. That’s why prevention should be a focus especially from spring to autumn.

What diseases do ticks carry?

Ticks can transmit several serious diseases. The most well-known are:

• Lyme borreliosis – a bacterial disease whose first symptom is typically a circular red rash (erythema migrans) at the site of the tick bite. The illness can develop several days to weeks after the bite (the child should be monitored for 4-6 weeks). We watch for skin changes, redness, fever, fatigue, or body aches.

Specific symptoms in children include:

1. Facial nerve palsy – paralysis of one side of the face, drooping corner of the mouth, or inability to close the eye,
2. Borreliosis lymphocytoma – a blue or red spot on the child's earlobe, nipple, or scrotum,
3. Behavioral changes and refusal to eat.

Lyme borreliosis is treated with antibiotics; early diagnosis is crucial!

• Tick-borne encephalitis – a viral inflammatory disease affecting the nervous system. After a bite, the child needs to be monitored for 28 days, focusing on flu-like symptoms: fever, fatigue, and neurological changes. This disease has a typical two-phase course.

     Phase 1 (days 7 to 14) – increased temperature or fever, fatigue, weakness, and malaise. Headaches and muscle pain. Digestive issues – nausea and loss of appetite. These symptoms last about 5 days, followed by apparent recovery, but in some cases, the disease progresses to the second phase.

     Phase 2 (days 14 to 21) – involvement of the nervous system

1. ● Return of high fevers.
2. ● Severe headaches.
3. ● Neck stiffness – unable to touch chest with chin.
4. ● Sensitivity to light.
5. ● Behavioral changes – sleepiness or irritability.
6. ● Dizziness, balance disorders.
7. ● Palsies – paralysis of limbs.

If any of these symptoms appear, do not hesitate to contact a pediatrician or visit the emergency room!

There is no direct treatment for tick-borne encephalitis. Management is symptomatic and often requires hospitalization. Treatment includes analgesics (painkillers), antipyretics (fever reducers), strict bed rest, hydration, and immune support. Administration of vitamin C and B vitamins is recommended. Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is available.

• Other diseases that occur rarely in our region include babesiosis and anaplasmosis.

Any suspicious skin changes or health symptoms should always be consulted with a doctor.

What to do if you find a tick?

Finding a tick can be stressful, especially when it involves a small child. It's important to stay calm and act quickly – the chance of Lyme disease transmission significantly increases only after several hours of attachment. After finding a tick, note the date and place of attachment. Monitor the site for several weeks and record any new symptoms, especially redness or rash, as well as fever or fatigue. If increased temperature, redness, rash, or other unusual signs appear, don't hesitate to seek medical help.

Proper tick removal: Step-by-step guide

1. Remove the tick as soon as possible – use a special tick tweezers or a tick card, or the finest available tweezers.
2. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it gently and steadily upward without twisting. Do not apply oil, cream, or alcohol, to avoid squeezing its gut contents out and accelerating disease transmission.
3. Thoroughly disinfect the area – after removing the tick, treat the site with an appropriate disinfectant.
4. Observe the site for the following weeks and if any problems arise, contact a pediatrician or doctor promptly.

If you are unsure about removing the tick yourself, seek assistance from a healthcare professional.

Prevention: How to effectively protect yourself from ticks?

• Prefer long pants, long sleeves, and head coverings when spending time outdoors.
• Use suitable repellents, including those safe for children.
• After returning home, thoroughly check your entire body, especially behind the ears, in the hair, under the knees, armpits, inner thighs, and under the chin.
• Take a shower and change clothes after spending time in nature.
• Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is also available; consult your pediatrician for information.

Although it's not always possible to completely prevent contact with ticks, these simple measures can greatly reduce the risk of attachment and possible disease transmission.