Ticks are mean little beasts. Walk carelessly through a bush or tall grass and they’ll cling to you like a fly to a honey pot. The tick itself wouldn’t be so bad. The pathogens that it carries are dangerous. There are now effective vaccinations against TBE, the well-known meningitis. In the case of Lyme disease , however, things are not looking so rosy. Lyme disease even includes various infectious diseases. Lyme disease occurs most frequently in Germany. We will tell you what this infection is all about, how you should react if you are bitten by a tick and how you can best protect yourself.
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What is Lyme disease exactly?
Borreliosis describes a number of infectious diseases that can take a very different course depending on the species. There are a total of six different Lyme infections , of which only two can be transmitted to humans. This includes what is known as relapsing fever and Lyme disease. Relapsing fever is almost never seen in Europe. It is mainly distributed in the tropics. In Europe, relapsing fever only occurs when travelers “import” this Borrelia infection from their vacation. Lyme disease, on the other hand, is widespread in Germany. Around 100,000 Germans become infected with Borrelia every year. Have you thought of everything for the next trip? Do our travel check here.
Borrelia are bacteria of the genus Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection with Lyme disease occurs in three stages. In the first stage, there is a reddening of the corresponding skin area, which spreads more and more as it progresses (the so-called reddening). This is followed by fever and other flu-like symptoms such as sweating, muscle and joint pain. In the second stage (after four to 16 weeks), these symptoms usually intensify. In the final stage of the disease (after several months), muscle paralysis and chronic, severe pain in muscles, joints and organs can occur. Curability of Lyme disease at this stage is questionable.
Characteristics of Lyme disease
Symptoms: Severe, spreading reddening at the injection site, fever, muscle and joint pain, flu-like symptoms. In the later course severe pain in joints and muscles and signs of paralysis.
Treatment: Lyme disease can only be treated with antibiotics. The duration of therapy is usually between two and four weeks.
Prevention: Closed-toe clothing and high-heeled shoes are recommended for hikes in the woods or fields. If a tick has already been bitten, the tick must be removed quickly and professionally to prevent infection and disease.
How is Lyme disease transmitted?
Lyme disease pathogens are mainly found in ticks , but in rare cases can also occur in mosquitoes or horseflies. In contrast to TBE, Borrelia can be found all over Germany. The number of infected ticks varies between five and 35 percent. The proportion in the south of Germany is significantly higher than in the north. Accordingly, the risk of infection in the south is higher than in the north. The older a tick gets, the more likely it is to become infected with Borrelia. In our guide to mosquitoes, we clear up various myths.
The longer a tick lives, the higher the probability that it will get on an infected animal. The bacterium uses a simple trick. It hibernates in rodents and then spreads again in spring through ticks. By the way: Lyme disease is not transmitted when the tick bites or when it sucks afterwards. The bacterium is only passed from the tick to the human after the “meal” has ended. Then she regurgitates gastric fluid that contains the pathogens. The “good” thing about it: You have some time left. If the tick is removed quickly and professionally within 24 hours, the risk of transmission is minimized. But be careful: If the tick is not professionally removed, it pours out its stomach contents – if you are not sure, how you should remove the little animal, then talk to your doctor. So-called oils, with which a tick can be removed, also increase the risk of infection and thus of Lyme disease.
What to do if you are infected with Lyme disease?
The symptoms of Lyme disease are not always immediately recognizable. In rare cases, there is no clear sign of erythema. Therefore, if you feel unwell and flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Since the symptoms are so general and can apply to many different diseases, only an intensive exchange with the doctor can help. Don’t leave a tick bite unmentioned and insist on a Lyme disease test if necessary. Even if you cannot be vaccinated against Lyme disease, you should regularly renew your vaccination against other diseases. Our guide tells you how important vaccinations are.
Unfortunately, there are still no quick tests for Lyme disease, but the disease can be easily detected with a blood test. At least if it is an initial infection. Because Lyme disease can still be detected in the blood after it has healed. This makes it all the more difficult to diagnose reinfection. The good news is that if Lyme disease is diagnosed early enough, it can be treated with antibiotics. Nevertheless, it is best to be preventive and wear long trousers and closed clothing when hiking through forests or pastures. This minimizes the risk of a tick bite.
