How is Lyme disease transmitted. What are the early signs of Lyme disease. How can you prevent tick bites and Lyme disease. What is the recommended treatment for Lyme disease. Why are tick-borne infections on the rise. How do you safely remove an attached tick. What should you do if you suspect Lyme disease exposure.

Understanding Lyme Disease: Causes and Transmission

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. It’s primarily transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks. These ticks are prevalent in certain regions, making Lyme disease more common in specific areas.

Where is Lyme disease most prevalent? The Northeast and Upper Midwest of the United States are considered hot spots for Lyme disease. However, cases have been reported in other parts of the country and around the world. The geographic distribution of Lyme disease is expanding, which has raised concerns among health professionals and researchers.

The Rising Incidence of Tick-Borne Infections

Scientists are investigating the reasons behind the increasing rates of tick-borne infections, including Lyme disease. They’re also studying why ticks are expanding into new geographic areas. This expansion could potentially lead to more cases of Lyme disease in regions previously considered low-risk.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Early detection of Lyme disease is crucial for effective treatment. What are the initial signs to watch for after a tick bite? According to Dr. Bobbi Pritt, director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, one of the most characteristic signs is a rash at the site of the tick bite.

Can you describe the typical Lyme disease rash? The rash often appears as a bull’s-eye pattern, with a central red spot surrounded by a clear area and an outer red ring. However, it’s important to note that not all Lyme disease rashes present this classic appearance. Some may be uniformly red or have an irregular shape.

Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease

• Bull’s-eye rash (erythema migrans)
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Headache
• Neck stiffness

If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress and cause more severe symptoms. What complications can arise from untreated Lyme disease? Dr. Pritt explains that patients may experience disseminated rashes, joint pain, arthritis, and even neurological involvement. In some cases, patients may develop Bell’s palsy, a condition causing one-sided facial paralysis.

Lyme Disease Prevention: Strategies to Avoid Tick Bites

Preventing tick bites is the most effective way to avoid Lyme disease. How can you protect yourself from ticks when spending time outdoors? Dr. Pritt recommends several preventive measures:

1. Wear protective clothing that covers your skin
2. Use insect repellents containing DEET on exposed skin
3. Apply permethrin to clothing and gear
4. Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from accessing your legs
5. Perform thorough tick checks after spending time in tick-prone areas

Is there a specific way to apply permethrin for maximum effectiveness? Yes, spray permethrin on your clothing and allow it to dry before wearing. This not only repels ticks but can also kill them on contact, providing an extra layer of protection.

Proper Tick Removal and Post-Bite Care

If you find an attached tick, it’s crucial to remove it promptly and correctly. How should you remove an attached tick?

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure
3. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick, which can cause mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin
4. After removal, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water

What should you do after removing a tick? Monitor the bite area for signs of infection or rash development. If you develop symptoms or suspect Lyme disease exposure, consult your healthcare provider promptly.

Post-Bite Symptom Management

If you experience mild symptoms after a tick bite, there are several home care strategies you can employ:

• Apply ice or a cold pack to the bite area for 15-20 minutes every hour to reduce swelling
• Use over-the-counter antihistamines to relieve itching and swelling
• Apply calamine lotion to soothe itchy skin
• Consider using a local anesthetic spray containing benzocaine for pain relief (discontinue if skin irritation occurs)

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease

How is Lyme disease diagnosed? Diagnosis typically involves a combination of clinical symptoms, potential tick exposure history, and blood tests. However, blood tests may not always be accurate in the early stages of infection.

What is the standard treatment for Lyme disease? Lyme disease is primarily treated with antibiotics. The specific antibiotic and duration of treatment may vary depending on the stage and severity of the disease. Early treatment is crucial for the best outcomes.

Importance of Early Intervention

Why is early treatment of Lyme disease so important? Dr. Pritt emphasizes that early detection and treatment lead to better outcomes. The earlier the infection is caught and treated, the less likely it is to progress to more severe stages that can cause long-term complications.

Lyme Disease in Different Populations

Does Lyme disease affect different populations differently? While anyone can contract Lyme disease, certain groups may be at higher risk or experience different manifestations of the disease:

• Children: May have difficulty describing symptoms and are often more active outdoors
• Older adults: May have more severe symptoms due to weakened immune systems
• Pregnant women: Lyme disease can potentially affect the fetus, requiring careful monitoring and treatment
• Outdoor workers: Have increased exposure risk due to their occupations

How should these high-risk groups protect themselves? While general prevention strategies apply to everyone, these groups may need to take extra precautions, such as more frequent tick checks and prompt medical attention if exposure is suspected.

Emerging Research and Future Directions in Lyme Disease Management

What new developments are occurring in Lyme disease research? Scientists are exploring several avenues to improve Lyme disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment:

• Vaccine development: Researchers are working on new vaccines to prevent Lyme disease
• Improved diagnostic tests: Efforts are underway to develop more accurate and earlier detection methods
• Novel treatment approaches: Studies are investigating alternative therapies and treatment durations
• Tick control strategies: Research into environmentally friendly tick population control methods

How might these advancements impact Lyme disease management in the future? These developments could potentially lead to more effective prevention strategies, earlier and more accurate diagnoses, and improved treatment outcomes for patients with Lyme disease.

Living with Lyme Disease: Long-Term Outlook and Management

What is the long-term prognosis for individuals with Lyme disease? Most people who receive prompt and appropriate treatment for Lyme disease recover completely. However, a small percentage of patients may experience ongoing symptoms, a condition sometimes referred to as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

How can individuals manage long-term effects of Lyme disease? Management strategies may include:

• Regular follow-ups with healthcare providers
• Symptomatic treatment for persistent issues like joint pain or fatigue
• Lifestyle modifications to support overall health and well-being
• Participation in support groups or counseling to address psychological impacts

Is there ongoing research into PTLDS? Yes, researchers are actively studying the mechanisms behind PTLDS and exploring potential treatments to alleviate persistent symptoms.

Importance of Awareness and Education

Why is public education about Lyme disease crucial? Increasing awareness about Lyme disease can lead to better prevention practices, earlier recognition of symptoms, and prompt treatment. This, in turn, can reduce the overall impact of the disease on individuals and communities.

How can individuals stay informed about Lyme disease? Stay updated through reputable health organizations, attend community health events, and consult with healthcare providers for the most current information and recommendations regarding Lyme disease prevention and management.

Mayo Clinic Minute: What to do if you are exposed to Lyme disease

• By

  Deb Balzer

  July 5, 2022

Scientists are studying why tick-borne infections, including Lyme disease, are on the rise and why ticks are expanding into new geographic areas.

Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne infection, is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. It’s transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, previously known as a deer tick.

The Northeast and Upper Midwest are hot spots for Lyme disease, though there are other parts of the U.S. and the world where people have been infected.

Dr. Bobbi Pritt, director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, says it’s important to know what to look for and what to do if you are exposed to Lyme disease.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the script.

You spend a lot of time outdoors, remove an engorged deer tick from your skin and a few days later notice a rash.

“Patients may present with a rash at the site of the tick bite, and it’s classically a bull’s-eye rash, although not always,” says Dr. Pritt.

It might be time for medical intervention.

Lyme disease is treated with courses of antibiotics. The earlier you treat it, and the earlier you catch the infection and treat it, the better.

Dr. Pritt says that left untreated, symptoms may progress to “disseminated rashes, joint pain, arthritis and even neurologic involvement. And they can even have one-sided facial paralysis called Bell’s palsy. “

Prevention is the best medicine.

“Wearing permethrin sprayed on clothing also will repel and even kill ticks. And then just covering up with clothing so that the ticks can’t get to your skin,” says Dr. Pritt. “If you tuck your pants into your socks, you’re taking away an avenue for ticks to get to your legs to bite you.”

Related posts:

• “Mayo Clinic expert speaks of significance of Lyme disease uptick”
• “Tips for taming ticks”

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Related articles

Mayo Clinic Minute: What does a diagnosis of dense breasts mean?

A recent Food and Drug Administration rule requires healthcare providers to notify people if they have dense breasts.  Studies have shown that dense breast tissue can …

By Sonya Goins • July 10, 2023

Mayo Clinic Minute: What is a breast medicine specialist?

Many people think that a breast health specialist only treats cancer, but the truth is that these doctors handle a wide range of breast-related conditions.
Dr. …

By Sonya Goins • July 7, 2023

Tick Bite: Care Instructions | Kaiser Permanente

Skip Navigation

Overview

Ticks are small spiderlike animals. They bite to fasten themselves onto your skin and feed on your blood.

Ticks can carry diseases. But most ticks do not carry diseases, and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems.

Some people may have an allergic reaction to a tick bite. This reaction may be mild, with symptoms like itching and swelling. In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction may occur.

Most of the time, all you need to do for a tick bite is relieve any symptoms you may have.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Put ice or a cold pack on the bite for 15 to 20 minutes once an hour. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• Try an over-the-counter medicine to relieve itching, redness, swelling, and pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Take an antihistamine medicine to help relieve itching, redness, and swelling.
  • Use a spray of local anesthetic that contains benzocaine, such as Solarcaine. It may help relieve pain. If your skin reacts to the spray, stop using it.
  • Put calamine lotion on the skin. It may help relieve itching.

To avoid tick bites

• Avoid ticks:
  • Learn where ticks are found in your community, and stay away from those areas if possible.
  • Cover as much of your body as possible when you work or play in grassy or wooded areas.
  • Use insect repellents, such as products containing DEET. You can spray them on your skin.
  • Take steps to control ticks on your property if you live in an area where Lyme disease occurs. Clear leaves, brush, tall grasses, woodpiles, and stone fences from around your house and the edges of your yard or garden. This may help get rid of ticks.
• When you come in from outdoors, check your body for ticks, including your groin, head, and underarms. The ticks may be about the size of a sesame seed. If no one else can help you check for ticks on your scalp, comb your hair with a fine-tooth comb.
• If you find a tick, remove it quickly. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to its mouth (the part in your skin) as possible. Slowly pull the tick straight out—do not twist or yank—until its mouth releases from your skin. If part of the tick stays in the skin, leave it alone. It will likely come out on its own in a few days.
• Ticks can come into your house on clothing, outdoor gear, and pets. These ticks can fall off and attach to you.
  • Check your clothing and outdoor gear. Remove any ticks you find. Then put your clothing in a clothes dryer on high heat for about 4 minutes to kill any ticks that might remain.
  • Check your pets for ticks after they have been outdoors.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. These may include:
  • Sudden raised, red areas (hives) all over your body.
  • Swelling of the throat, mouth, lips, or tongue.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Passing out (losing consciousness). Or you may feel very lightheaded or suddenly feel weak, confused, or restless.
  • Severe belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the bite.
  • Red streaks leading from the bite.
  • Pus draining from the bite.
  • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• You have belly pain, nausea, or vomiting.
• You develop a new rash.
• You have joint pain.
• You are very tired.
• You have flu-like symptoms.
• You have symptoms for more than 1 week.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter L087 in the search box to learn more about “Tick Bite: Care Instructions”.

Remove and submit the tick for analysis in Voronezh

✔ you can take a tick for analysis in Voronezh and find out the results of a laboratory test for infection within a few days;
✔ doctors will quickly and painlessly remove the parasite;
✔ we will detect antibodies to viruses or confirm their absence in the blood after a bite.

Make an appointment

Choose a doctor

Reviews

Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with a traumatologist-orthopedist

1300 ₽

Sign up

Initial appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon

530 ₽

Sign up

Antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus, IgG

790 ₽

Sign up

Antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus, IgM

790 ₽

Sign up

DNA/RNA tick-borne infections (tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), tick-borne borreliosis (B.burgdorferi sl), granulocytic anaplasmosis (A.phagocytophillum), E.chaffeensis, E.muris)

2100 ₽

Sign up

Removal of a superficial foreign body

1500 ₽

Sign up

Show all prices

Benefits of SOVA Clinic

✔ We work seven days a week.
✔ Complex of services in one place: diagnostics, surgery, treatment and prevention of diseases.
✔ City center location.
✔ Reception without queues and long waiting times.
✔ Attentive doctors.
✔ Uniform service standards throughout the network of multidisciplinary clinics.

Traumatologists and surgeons of the SOVA Medical Center will help get rid of the carrier of infections and offer to immediately hand over the tick for examination to a laboratory in Voronezh. Have you removed a possible carrier of diseases from your body? Bring it in an airtight container to our clinic, and we will analyze it.

Why you need to check your ticks

Timely detection of infectious agents allows you to take timely measures to prevent the development of diseases. For example, carry out an emergency vaccination or start therapy.

Types of services

✔ removal of the parasite in the emergency room is sterile and safe;
✔ PCR diagnostics of tick-borne diseases;
✔ taking blood for antibodies.

Options and price for mite research

In the SOVA clinic, you can pay for an analysis to detect DNA / RNA of pathogens of tick-borne infections, such as:

• Encephalitis (leads to damage to brain cells, which is accompanied by paralysis).
• Borreliosis. Another name is Lyme disease (characterized by damage to the internal organs and cells of the nervous system, leading to meningitis, neuritis and other problems).
• Monocytic ehrlichiosis (characterized by damage to the internal organs and the formation of granulomas in them, the so-called tissue nodules).
• Granulocytic anaplasmosis (accompanied by muscle pain, cough, nausea, diarrhea, can lead to an increase in lymph nodes and damage to the kidneys, spleen, liver).

In addition, we offer to donate blood and order an analysis for antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus IgM and IgG, which are markers of infection.

What to do while waiting for test results

Qualitative research on ticks usually takes up to three days. While you are waiting for confirmation / denial of the presence of the disease, take your temperature every day and check the bite site. Since the incubation period of tick-borne infections lasts from three days to a month, then temperature indicators, as well as the condition of injured skin, should be monitored for at least three weeks.

If the body temperature has risen more than 38 ° C or there is a headache, or general weakness, if the bite is reddened, you should urgently see a doctor.

Get advice by phone or make an appointment

Enroll

How to remove a tick in Voronezh

The ideal option is to go to a trauma center so that the doctor, using special tools, gently, smoothly and, most importantly, completely removes the parasite. The trauma center of the SOVA clinic is open every day.

Lubricating the bite site with oil or using tweezers is not recommended. Because the risks of damage to the body of an arthropod and infection increase, and the process of removal is not facilitated at all.

We strongly do not recommend removing the parasite yourself at home. In the event of a tick bite, entrust the removal to medical personnel.

Transport Regulations

The longer the contact of an arthropod with a person lasts, the greater the chance of infection. Therefore, if a tick has bitten, then you need to remove it from the human skin as quickly as possible, while trying to keep it alive and whole. We recommend that you submit a tick for analysis in Voronezh as soon as it is removed, because it will take several days to get the results, and the incubation period for the development of some dangerous diseases is quite short.

The tick should be transported in a hermetically sealed container. If you are unable to deliver the arthropod to the hospital within 24 hours of being bitten, you can freeze the tick and store it at -10°C to +2°C. Frozen material can only be transported together with an ice pack. It is impossible to defrost and re-freeze the parasite!

In the refrigerator, that is, at a temperature of +2 and not higher than +8 ° C, you can store a live tick for no more than a month. A dead arachnid is stored under the same conditions for no longer than five days after removal.

It was not possible to save the tick, but you want to be sure that you did not get infected? Donate blood for antibodies at the SOVA clinic and find out for sure if the tick-borne encephalitis virus is present in the body.

Make an appointment

Get advice by phone or make an appointment

Sign up

Service provided:

st. Nikitinskaya, 52

7 (473) 373-03-03

How to get there

st. Nikitinskaya, 52

How to get there

7 (473) 373-03-03

Sign up with our specialists:

Experience: 21 years

Samotin Alexander Nikolaevich

Surgeon, oncologist

Leading specialist

Category: Higher

Reception (examination, consultation) of a leading specialist surgeon primary:

1800 ₽

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a leading specialist surgeon:

1800 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

71

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 12 years

Larina Tatyana Sergeevna

Head of the Center for the Treatment of Purulent Wounds, Surgeon

Leading specialist

ProDoctors Award 2021:
1st place in the category “Surgeons”

Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with a leading specialist surgeon:

1800 ₽

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a leading specialist surgeon:

1800 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

101

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 6 years

Oganesyan Sergey Samvelovich

Head of the Center for the treatment of sports injuries, orthopedic traumatologist

Chief specialist

ProDoctors Award 2022:
2nd place in the Traumatology category

Reception of children from 16 years old

Promotion! More

Reception (examination, consultation) of a traumatologist-orthopedist:

5000 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

51

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Dear patients! To receive a consultation on the knee and shoulder joints, you must have the conclusion and the MRI record on a disk/flash drive with you.

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 27 years

Parkhisenko Vadim Yurievich

Oncologist, Surgeon

Chief Specialist

Category: higher

Reception (examination, consultation) of a chief specialist surgeon:

2000 ₽

Appointment (examination, consultation) of the chief specialist surgeon repeated examination:

2000 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

42

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 7 years

Sesorova Darya Vladimirovna

Deputy chief physician for medical work, traumatologist-orthopedist

Chief specialist

Reception of children from 0 years old

Reception (examination, consultation) of a traumatologist-orthopedist of the chief specialist primary:

2000 ₽

Reception (examination, consultation) of a traumatologist-orthopedist of the chief specialist repeated:

2000 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

22

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 25 years

Efremov Oleg Nikolaevich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Leading specialist

Category: Higher

Reception (examination, consultation) of a leading specialist traumatologist-orthopedist primary:

1400 ₽

Appointment (examination, consultation) of a leading specialist traumatologist-orthopedist repeated:

1400 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

10

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 6 years

Zverev Roman Vladimirovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Leading specialist

Reception of children from 14 years old

Reception (examination, consultation) of a traumatologist-orthopedist of the leading specialist primary:

1400 ₽

Appointment (examination, consultation) of a leading specialist traumatologist-orthopedist repeated:

1400 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

44

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 17 years

Zinoviev Vadim Anatolyevich

Surgeon

Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon:

1400 ₽

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon:

1100 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

25

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 8 years

Kolyabin Dmitry Sergeevich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Leading specialist

Reception of children from 1 year old

Promotion! More

Reception (examination, consultation) of a traumatologist-orthopedist of a leading specialist, primary:

1400 ₽

Appointment (examination, consultation) of a leading specialist traumatologist-orthopedist repeated:

1400 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

59

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 12 years

Nazarenko Boris Vladimirovich

Surgeon

Category: Higher

Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon:

1400 ₽

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a surgeon:

1100 ₽

More about the doctor

Reviews

11

Make an appointment

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Experience: 5 years

Privezentsev Bogdan Olegovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Reception of children from 16 years of age

Reception (examination, consultation) of a traumatologist-orthopedist primary:

1300 ₽

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with a traumatologist-orthopedist:

1100 ₽

More about the doctor
Reviews

Enroll

Make an appointment:

Clinic appointment:
st. Nikitinskaya, 52

Appointment by phone +7 (473) 373-03-03

Small tick, yes… in Novosibirsk

It is known that ixodid ticks are carriers and reservoirs of pathogens of many natural focal diseases, classified into the group of so-called tick-borne infections.

The most common in Russia: tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (ITB), Omsk hemorrhagic fever (OHF), anaplasmosis (including human granulocytic anaplasmosis, HAH), ehrlichiosis (including monocytic human ehrlichiosis, MEC), Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF), tularemia, babesiosis. All of these diseases can be asymptomatic or cause severe consequences for the body, including death and disability.

One tick can contain several pathogens and transmit them to a person during suction. It is possible to transmit the infection (borreliosis) through tick feces when they get on the skin and then rubbed into the skin when scratching. Cases of mechanical transmission of pathogens are not excluded when ticks are accidentally crushed during their removal from animals (dogs) and the contents of the intestine of the tick get into microtraumas of the skin or conjunctiva of the eyes. Another possible route of transmission from animals to humans may be the alimentary route, which is realized by eating raw goat milk or dairy products without heat treatment.

The Novosibirsk region is endemic (that is, there is a high risk of infection) for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Let’s talk about these infections in more detail.

LYME DISEASE OR Ixodid tick-borne borreliosis

Symptoms. Pathognomonic peculiar hyperemia on the body, the so-called migrating erythema, which increases in size and may have a clear center (decrease in hyperemia in the center), usually not accompanied by itching, burning or pain, usually appears within 1 to 4 weeks after the bite tick (but may appear in a period of 3 days to 3 months) and persists for several weeks, often located in the area of ​​​​a tick bite.

The disease proceeds under the “mask” of various somatic pathologies. Symptoms of Lyme disease include: malaise, fatigue, fever, sweating, swollen salivary glands, neck pain or stiffness, inflammatory arthritis in one or more joints, which may be unstable and migratory, heart disease such as blocks or pericarditis, muscle pain ocular symptoms such as uveitis or keratitis, skin rash (acrodermatitis atrophicus chronicus), cognitive impairment (memory problems and difficulty concentrating), headache, paresthesias, neurological symptoms (facial paralysis or other unexplained cranial nerve palsies) , symptoms of meningitis, mononeuritis, or other unexplained radiculopathy).

Diagnostics. If the patient has erythema migrans and a history of tick bites, appropriate treatment can be initiated without laboratory diagnosis. The diagnosis is confirmed by serological tests – ELISA, assessment of the levels of IgM and IgG antibodies and an analysis for borreliosis by the immunoblot method.

Treatment. Long-term complex, including antibiotic therapy, which is prescribed by an infectious disease doctor.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Today, it is included in the category of especially dangerous, unpredictable transmissible infections.

There is currently no specific treatment for this disease worldwide!

The only way to prevent viral tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a full, three-stage vaccination course. The first dose of the vaccine must be administered no later than two months before the start of the tick season. In our region, this is the end of February – the beginning of March.

Vaccination is indicated for clinically healthy people (children – from one year old) living in a territory endemic for tick-borne encephalitis or staying on it, after examination by an infectious disease specialist, therapist (pediatrician).

For specific prophylaxis of tick-borne encephalitis, the following vaccines are currently used in Russia :

• Cultured, purified, concentrated, inactivated dry tick-borne encephalitis vaccine (PIPVE named after MP Chumakov, RAMS Federal State Unitary Enterprise, Russia).
• EnceVir (NPO Microgen, Russia).

All TBE vaccines are interchangeable. Western European strains of tick-borne encephalitis virus, from which imported vaccines are prepared, and Eastern European strains that circulate in most Russian endemic territories and are used in the domestic production of vaccines, are similar in antigenic structure. The similarity in the structure of key antigens is 85%. In this regard, immunization with a vaccine prepared from a single viral strain creates strong immunity against infection with any tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Vaccination schedule. The TBE vaccination consists of 3 doses given on a 0-1(3)-9(12) month schedule. That is, the second vaccination is given 1 or 3 months after the first, and the third – after 9 or 12 months. Revaccination is carried out every 3 years, after testing for protective specific antibodies.

For the majority of those vaccinated, 2 vaccinations with an interval of 1 month are enough to form immunity. Permanent immunity to tick-borne encephalitis appears two weeks after the second dose, regardless of the type of vaccine and the chosen regimen.

However, to develop full and long-term (at least 3 years) immunity, it is necessary to make a third vaccination one year after the second.

Thereafter, revaccination is done every 3 years – a single introduction of a standard dose of the vaccine.

There is an emergency tick-borne encephalitis vaccination scheme. The purpose of the emergency regimen is to quickly achieve a protective effect in cases where the standard vaccination schedule has been missed. The emergency vaccine provides the same strong immunity as the standard vaccination schedule. But the third vaccination must be delivered anyway in a year.

Vaccination can protect about 95% of those vaccinated. In cases where the disease occurs in vaccinated people, it proceeds more easily and with less consequences.

However, it should be remembered that vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis does not exclude all other measures to prevent tick bites (repellents, proper equipment), since, as we have already mentioned, ticks carry not only tick-borne encephalitis, but also other infections that cannot be protected from vaccination .

Based on what tests can one judge the presence of immunity to tick-borne encephalitis?

You can donate blood for IgG antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis. With titers of 1:200 and above, it is considered that the patient has a protective level of specific antibodies. With titers below 1:100 or a negative result, it is considered that there is no immunity to tick-borne encephalitis.

AFTER SUCTION OF THE TICKETS

• Remove the tick as carefully as possible, using special tools or wrapping it with a thread. It is important not to squeeze him so that he does not regurgitate the contents of his stomach into the wound, which increases the risk of infection.
• It is important to bring the tick to the laboratory for analysis alive. Studies of ticks taken from patients for the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus antigen in them are carried out by ELISA or PCR to resolve the issue of the need for emergency prophylaxis.
• Human anti-TBE immunoglobulin is used for emergency TBE prophylaxis in patients who have not completed the full course of vaccination (no proven efficacy in preventing the development of TBE symptoms). The injection must be delivered within 72 hours after the bite of a tick containing the TBE virus (preferably in the first 24-48 hours).
• In the future, after a tick bite, it is recommended to comply with the regimen (avoid overheating, insolation, hypothermia, overwork, alcohol intake, night shift work, business trips, surgical operations, dental procedures and vaccinations). Conducted daily thermometry, the use of antihistamines, vitamins and interferon inducers. If clinical symptoms appear, the patient should immediately consult a doctor.

Can a vaccinated person receive immunoglobulin after a bite? What negative consequences can be?

Immunoglobulin is obtained from the blood of vaccinated donors. It makes no sense for a vaccinated person to put immunoglobulin. That is why in European countries with a high percentage of the vaccinated population, the production of immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis has been completely stopped.

It is believed that foreign antibodies can lead to a malfunction of one’s own immune system. But the negative effect of immunoglobulin on the development of tick-borne encephalitis in vaccinated people has not been proven. However, it is precisely known about fairly frequent negative reactions in response to the introduction of immunoglobulin to healthy people – up to anaphylactic shock.

If an immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis has been given, after what time can I get vaccinated?

After administration of immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis, an interval of at least 4 weeks must be observed before vaccination, otherwise the level of specific antibodies may be reduced.

COVID-19 AND TICKS

IS IT SAFE TO VACCINATE (CHILDREN AND ADULTS) DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

The World Health Organization (WHO), whose work is also focused on the prevention and control of non-communicable and infectious diseases, strongly recommends that all routine preventive vaccinations be carried out in accordance with the schedule – even during the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, after more than a year of living in a pandemic, there is no worldwide evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in any specific risks associated with vaccination.

Vaccination is carried out against the background of the absence of clinical manifestations of infection, taking into account the nuances of your somatic status, past diseases. Therefore, before each vaccination, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will competently collect an anamnesis, conduct an examination and decide on a possible vaccination.

DOES VACCINATION INCREASE THE RISK OF COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new disease that is being studied. However, based on experience in combating other infectious diseases, it is known that vaccination against one disease does not weaken the body’s immune response to others. The proportion of the infectious agent in the vaccine is negligible, and its strength is not enough to develop significant malaise in the patient, but enough to develop an adequate immune response. There is no data in the world literature that would indicate that vaccination can increase the risk of infection with COVID-19. But before any vaccination, you should consult a specialist.

WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL TO HAVE VACCINATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

Any failure to comply with the requirements of the National Immunization Schedule, even for a short period, will expose all members of society and especially children to a direct risk of contracting vaccine-preventable infections, especially if they do not have innate immunity, that is, if the mother of the baby was also not vaccinated in my time. By increasing the number of people susceptible to these infections, we risk losing the herd immunity that protects the whole society, and increase the likelihood of outbreaks of infections such as measles, diphtheria, polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and others.

IS IT DANGEROUS TO BE VACCINATED DURING THE INCUBATION PERIOD OF COVID-19?

Many viruses circulate in nature every year, including those transmitted by airborne droplets, so it is necessary to apply the general principles of vaccination of patients with infectious diseases. According to these principles, vaccination does not affect the course of an infectious disease in a patient who has already been infected but has not yet shown symptoms at the time of vaccination, or who becomes infected shortly after vaccination. Potential patient infection also does not affect the safety or efficacy of the vaccine being administered. But, for your safety, the decision to vaccinate should be made by a doctor, each specific case should be considered individually.