I recently spoke to a worried mum who had to remove a tick from her 15-month-old daughter after spending time in the garden. Like most children, the little girl loves to play outside and is quick on her little legs. Fortunately, the episode had no consequences.
Especially in spring and summer, when it gets warmer, families like to spend more time outdoors again. However, this also increases the risk of coming into contact with the tiny bloodsuckers. These pests can transmit up to 50 different diseases with their bites (ticks don't bite, they sting), of which Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are the best known and probably the most dangerous. You can find out more below.
However, you shouldn't panic straight away if you or your child have discovered a tick. Here we want to take a closer look at the topic and clear up a few misconceptions.
Tick profile
Let's clear up one of the most common misconceptions right away: No, ticks can be not fall out of the trees from above. With their eight legs, they can only crawl a maximum of 1.50 metres into the air anyway. So they don't "pounce" on their victims.
Instead, ticks live in the undergrowth, on shrubs, ferns and grasses as well as in meadows. And also in gardens and parks. The danger therefore comes "from below". Ticks can be brushed off by humans or animals as they pass by and reach their host in this way.
As soon as the nights are frost-free, the arachnids (ticks are not insects) become active from a daytime temperature of 10 degrees. They have scissor-like mouthparts with which they scratch the skin of their host. They then penetrate the skin tissue with their proboscis and dig a kind of cavity in which blood, lymph fluid and tissue substances collect - a feast for the little bloodsucker! The tick's saliva plays a special role here, as the animal uses it to release an anaesthetic, for example. This means that the human feels nothing of the bite. Other specific substances in the saliva of the pests ensure that the bite site does not become inflamed. And still other secretions prevent blood clotting in the bite site so that the tick can suck for days. None of this would be a problem. This only arises because the saliva of the unpleasant little animal can also contain pathogens.
A brief look at the development of the tick: The eggs laid by a female hatch into larvae measuring around 0.5 mm. These grow into so-called nymphs with a size of 1 to 2 mm. These develop into adults, which grow to a maximum size of 6 mm. However, if a female tick has become saturated with blood, it can even double its size. The larvae and nymphs also feed on blood.
Incidentally, ticks are extraordinarily tough: they can even survive a full 90 degree wash cycle and a few days in the freezer. And if you flush them down the toilet, they may well crawl back up again.
Disease risks
The greatest danger posed by ticks is the possible transmission of Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Both diseases can have significant long-term consequences. However, this does not mean that the relevant pathogens are automatically transmitted with every tick bite, as not every tick carries these pathogens.
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis)
Up to a third of the ticks found in Germany carry borrelia. However, this varies greatly from region to region. However, if these bacteria are transmitted to humans, then can They attack various organ systems, especially the skin, nerve tracts and joints, but also the heart.
Lyme disease is characterised by symptoms such as inflammation or motor or sensory disorders. An infection is initially characterised by a ring-shaped redness around the site of the bite. Other symptoms may include fever, joint swelling and headaches and aching limbs. However, all of these signs do not necessarily have to occur. The vast majority of illnesses are quite mild and can be treated well with antibiotics. If necessary, they should also be treated in this way so that no complications occur. Therefore: After a tick bite on you or your child, observe the bite site for 14 days if possible. If there is a clearly visible, ring-shaped reddening of the skin, which is more red around the edges, please consult a doctor.
Basically, the longer the tick remains at the bite site and can suck there, the greater the risk of infection. It increases after a sucking time of 12 hours. It is therefore important to remove the tick quickly (see below).
However, even those who are infected do not automatically contract Lyme disease. In people who have been bitten by a tick, according to Robert Koch Institute (RKI), only 2.6 % to 5.6 % were found to be infected with Borrelia. And of these proven cases, only very few become ill. Expressed in figures: of those bitten, only 0.3 to 1.4% also develop symptoms of the disease. Once you have been infected, this unfortunately does not protect you from a new infection after another tick bite. There is no vaccination against Lyme disease.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)
As mentioned, a tick can also be a carrier of TBE viruses. In this case, the viruses are transmitted with the animal's saliva as soon as it is bitten. This can result in inflammation of the central nervous system and meningitis. It can take a few days or even several weeks before the first flu-like symptoms appear. Because the tick bite may be forgotten by then, it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms from a "normal" summer flu.
An infection is rather unlikely in children. If it does occur, the course of the disease is usually rather mild with "only" a headache and fever.
Most infected adults remain asymptomatic or completely symptom-free. If this is not the case, the disease can progress in two phases:
Phase 1: As already mentioned, those infected suffer from flu-like symptoms. Once these have subsided, most have overcome the illness.
Phase 2: The meninges/brain then become inflamed (meningoencephalitis), possibly also the spinal cord. Those affected suffer from fever again and have to struggle with nausea, vomiting, disorders or failures of the nervous system. This can lead to permanent damage.
Unfortunately, TBE itself cannot be treated, only the symptoms associated with it. In severe cases, this can also be done in hospital. Once you have survived a TBE infection, you are considered immune.
The risk of ticks transmitting TBE depends on the region in which you live or are travelling. The TBE risk areas are currently still mainly in southern Germany. However, due to the mild winters, they are spreading further and further to the north and east. Here you can find an up-to-date map. And the number of TBE cases recorded in Germany is also rising continuously, reports the Robert Koch Institute.
The good news: You can be vaccinated against TBE as a preventative measure in three annual doses. Vaccination is possible for children aged 12 months and over. This is recommended if you live in a high-risk area and your child plays outside a lot. Discuss with your paediatrician what makes sense for you individually.
Remove the tick correctly
Keep calm: If you have discovered a tick on your child, you need to act quickly but carefully, because the bloodsucker must be removed.
In this context, I would like to dispel another persistent misconception: No - under no circumstances should the animal be sprinkled with oil, nail varnish (remover), glue or alcohol to render it harmless before removal. Don't do that! This will only cause the tick to "vomit", so to speak, and thus spit pathogens into the puncture site. This increases the risk of infection.
The following is important so that you can pull the tick out of your child easily:
- Your child must keep still. As young children in particular are not always "co-operative", it is helpful if they are distracted. Ideally, you should have a second person with you to keep the child occupied with a toy, for example. Otherwise, you will have to come up with something to distract them yourself.
- You yourself should also remain calm and relaxed. If you become stressed and hectic, this will be transferred to your child and only make things more nerve-wracking for everyone involved. You also need a steady hand to remove the tick.
The right tool: The best way to remove it is to use a special Tick card or Tick tweezers resp. Tick tweezers. One of these devices should be in your Medicine chest are available. Otherwise, they are available in pharmacies or online, for example. When the "outdoor season" starts and you are outside a lot with your toddler, it is advisable to always have a tick removal tool with you.
If you don't have any of these instruments to hand when travelling or at home, normal tweezers or long fingernails will also help if necessary. However, if the tick is so unfavourably positioned that you cannot remove it yourself, a doctor can help.
The right technique: To pull out the tick, place the Tick tweezers or -pliers as close as possible to your child's skin below of the tick's body. Then do not pull the animal out jerkily, but slowly and consistently vertically upwards. Be careful not to twist or squeeze the tick body.
With the Tick card you go under the animal with the slit and move the card forwards and upwards. This is how you lever the tick out, so to speak.
In addition, so-called Tick lassos offered. The small bloodsuckers are pulled out using a snare in a similar technique.
It may happen that the first attempt to remove the animal is not successful. Just try again. It doesn't matter if parts of the tick's mouthparts get stuck in the puncture site, as the human body will simply reject them later.
After removal, disinfect the puncture site with Wound disinfectant spray . And as mentioned: keep an eye on the area for a few days to weeks. If (circular) reddening appears or your child later suffers from a fever, headache, aching limbs or shortness of breath: Off to the paediatrician's practice!
Protection from ticks
There are a few things you can do both before and after your stay in the countryside to make it as difficult as possible for the little bloodsuckers:
Use protective spray: This exudes a scent that tends to keep ticks at bay outdoors. Some sprays are aimed directly at repelling ticks, others are mosquito repellent sprays that also work against ticks. Very important: The respective Insect repellent spray should also be authorised for (small) children. So pay attention to the age indication and seek advice from a pharmacy.
Dress the child appropriately: As a preventative measure, you can dress your child in light-coloured clothing. Ticks are easier to spot on light-coloured clothing. The clothing should also be as tight-fitting as possible so that the eight-legged creatures cannot crawl up the body. It is also best to tuck your child's T-shirt into their trousers and pull their socks over their trouser legs. This also makes it harder for ticks to conquer the human body.
Closed shoes: Unlike sandals, closed shoes provide better protection against ticks getting onto the skin. However, if your child is walking barefoot in a meadow, they have no protection at all.
Avoid undergrowth & co: Try to ensure that your child does not spend time in the undergrowth or bushes.
Scan the body: After an excursion into the great outdoors, you should whole body your child for ticks. These creatures prefer thin, soft and well-vascularised areas on the skin - they particularly like the back of the knee, the loin area, stomach and chest. In children, ticks also like to sit on the head. If you find one, continue the examination until you are "all the way through", as there may be more than one tick on the skin.
Your child's removed clothing can be shaken out well over the shower or bathtub. Any ticks that fall out will be easier to recognise.
