A parasite well-known to nature hikers, ticks should be taken seriously when you spot them on your skin. These mites are indeed carriers of diseases, including Lyme disease which can have serious consequences on health.
Published in April 2021, an analysis carried out across France since 2016 revealed that nearly 30% of ticks carry an infectious agent for humans, including the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, reports the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Inrae).
In 2019, the health authorities officially listed 50,133 cases of Lyme disease in metropolitan France, mainly in the Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes and New Aquitaine. It is also in the gardens during games, gardening outings or during family meals that we are most likely to be bitten by a tick.
where to find them on the body?
A tick bite is painless. And for good reason, it secretes an anesthetic when it dies and even inserts its head under the skin. Its rostrum, a kind of sting, will above all ensure that it remains well attached. But this is not visible at first glance. After a day outdoors among plants, tall grass, or in a forest, consider inspecting your body, including your back. If ticks can hang on everywhere, they like certain parts such as the armpits, lower abdomen, and even the back of the neck.
How to remove a tick?
It is recommended to remove a tick as quickly as possible, a delay of less than twenty-four hours is ideal, after which the mite is more likely to share the bacteria it carries. When removing the tick, several precautions should be taken. It should never be removed suddenly, its head slipped under the skin can remain a vector of diseases.
Pharmacies offer special tweezers, called tick pullers, for sale. These have a tip that allows you to grab this parasite and a delicate movement by turning the clamp to unhook it. It should be noted that a tweezer may be sufficient, but here it is advisable to grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin and the head planted in it and to act as a lever (without turning) to remove it. If in doubt, a pharmacist can help you.
Be careful not to use the ether method. A popular idea is to soak a cotton ball in ether to put the tick to sleep and remove it with tweezers. But this method is not recommended by health professionals, as the tick can “regurgitate” the blood it contains and thereby transmit the bacteria it is likely to transmit.
Once the tick is removed, disinfect the bite area with 70% alcohol or other disinfectant.
Check the evolution of the bitten area
In the days following the tick removal, it is recommended to check the area where the parasite has bitten. If a red, round patch extends in a circle from the area of the bite, a doctor should be consulted promptly. A two-week antibiotic treatment is recommended. If left untreated, joint, neurological or skin disorders may appear.
Participate in the citique program
INRAE has developed a tick bite census system in order to better understand and prevent the problem. Called “Tick Signaling”, a free application on iOS and Android allows you to do participatory science and report to researchers where you have been bitten and to answer a short questionnaire. Finally, the application makes it possible to follow the evolution of a sting.
It is even possible to send the tick in question to the experts for analysis. The idea is to supply the first national public “tiquothèque”. Collection kits are available on order or from partner pharmacies for individuals.