Encephalitis is a serious viral disease that affects the central nervous system and the human brain. The main vector of the virus in our country is the encephalitis tick, which is found in the forests of the European part of Russia. The length of this arachnid tick is from 2.5 to 4 mm in a hungry state and increases to 10 mm in the pumped blood of an individual.
In its habitats, this arthropod parasite is not able to travel long distances, therefore, sitting on grass, bushes or trees, along paths and paths, it waits for its victim. When a person or animal approaches close range, he moves to their clothes or coat.
Absolutely imperceptibly moving through the body, the tick searches the skin for a place where you can safely stick to the subcutaneous blood vessels, while not disturbing its wearer. In humans, such places are located in the inguinal region, in the armpits, on the back and back of the head. Encephalitis ticks in dogs or other animals are usually attached to the inside of the limbs, chin, neck and behind the ears.
To get to the blood vessels, the tick encephalitis immerses its proboscis in the skin, releasing a special saliva into the wound, which contains substances that dull the sensitivity of nerves. Therefore, despite the deep penetration of the tick into the subcutaneous layers, it is virtually impossible to feel its bite. Having sucked blood, the insect independently falls off from its carrier to lay its eggs in the ground.
Together with saliva, a tick can bring encephalitis virus into the blood of its victim. Therefore, these insects are so dangerous. In addition to encephalitis, ticks can carry pathogens of many other diseases.
However, not every encephalitis tick is so dangerous. The virus is usually transmitted by ticks when fed from infected animals. Therefore, the probability of catching an infected tick is very small. On the other hand, we must not forget about the danger that this virus poses.
When a tick bites, first of all, it must be carefully removed. In some cases, it is recommended to drip a little oil on the body of the insect, the tick will become difficult to breathe and eventually it will disappear.
If the risk of encephalitis infection is high, then it is worth removing the tick as soon as possible. To do this, you need to pick up an insect with tweezers, or tie it with a thread closer to the proboscis, and slightly swaying to remove its head from under the skin. If the proboscis still breaks, then you can pick it up with a pin. The bitten place must be treated with brilliant green, iodine or alcohol.
After removing the tick, a bitten person should consult a doctor. The insect should also be taken to the nearest medical facility for examination. If it is established that an infected tick has bitten, then regardless of the onset of symptoms of the disease, an immunoglobulin injection must be made within 72 hours.
The first symptoms of an encephalitis tick bite are similar to the onset of flu: chills and fever. At the next stage of the development of the disease, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting begin.
Then comes a condition resembling arthrosis and arthritis with aches in the joints and bones. Difficulty breathing, heaviness appears throughout the body. The face and skin around the bite turn red. If you do not consult a doctor on time, then the further consequences of the virus will be irreversible.
To reduce the likelihood of a bite and tick-borne encephalitis disease to a minimum, it is necessary to apply a number of preventive measures:
- Going to the forest or park to wear as much as possible closed, tight clothes and necessarily a hat.
- Use tick bite repellents.
- While camping, inspect each other for ticks every 2 hours.
- Returning from a walk, be sure to examine yourself and your friends, especially in hard-to-reach places.
- Get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis every three years .
- If the encephalitis tick still bites, be sure to contact the nearest medical institution for help.