What are turkey mites and how do they affect humans. How can you identify turkey mite bites. What are the most effective treatments for turkey mite bites. How can you prevent turkey mite infestations and bites.

Turkey Mites: Tiny Pests with a Big Impact

Turkey mites, also known as bird mites or Dermanyssus gallinae, are tiny arachnids that primarily feed on the blood of birds, including turkeys. Despite their small size, these parasites can cause significant discomfort to humans when they come into contact with our skin. Understanding these pests is crucial for effectively managing and preventing infestations.

Characteristics of Turkey Mites

• Size: Typically less than 1mm long
• Color: Grayish-white to reddish-brown, depending on feeding status
• Habitat: Nests, cracks, and crevices near bird roosting areas
• Feeding habits: Primarily nocturnal, feeding on bird blood

Can turkey mites survive without their avian hosts? While these mites prefer to feed on birds, they can survive for several weeks without a blood meal and may turn to humans as alternative hosts when their primary food source is unavailable.

Identifying Turkey Mite Bites on Humans

When turkey mites bite humans, they often cause distinctive skin reactions. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Common Symptoms of Turkey Mite Bites

• Small, red, itchy bumps on the skin
• Clustered or linear bite patterns
• Intense itching, especially at night
• Skin irritation and rashes
• Potential allergic reactions in sensitive individuals

How long do turkey mite bite symptoms last? The duration of symptoms can vary, but typically, the itching and irritation may persist for several days to a week. In some cases, secondary infections can prolong the healing process.

Turkey Mite Bite Treatment: Alleviating Discomfort and Promoting Healing

Effective treatment of turkey mite bites involves both addressing the immediate symptoms and preventing further infestation. Here are some recommended approaches:

1. Cleanse the affected area with soap and water
2. Apply anti-itch creams or calamine lotion to reduce itching
3. Use over-the-counter antihistamines to manage allergic reactions
4. Apply cold compresses to soothe inflammation
5. Avoid scratching to prevent secondary infections

Are there any natural remedies for turkey mite bites? Some people find relief using natural solutions such as aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, or oatmeal baths. However, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before trying any new treatments, especially if symptoms persist or worsen.

Preventing Turkey Mite Infestations: Proactive Measures for a Mite-Free Environment

Prevention is key when it comes to dealing with turkey mites. By implementing certain strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of infestation and subsequent bites.

Effective Prevention Strategies

• Seal entry points around your home to prevent bird nesting
• Regularly clean and inspect areas where birds may roost
• Use bird deterrents such as visual scare devices or netting
• Maintain a clean and clutter-free environment
• Consider professional pest control services for severe infestations

How often should you inspect your property for signs of turkey mites? It’s recommended to conduct thorough inspections at least once a month, with more frequent checks during warmer months when mite activity tends to increase.

The Environmental Impact of Turkey Mites: Beyond Human Health Concerns

While turkey mites are primarily known for their impact on human comfort, they also play a role in broader ecological systems. Understanding their place in the environment can provide valuable insights into managing these pests responsibly.

Ecological Role of Turkey Mites

• Natural population control for some bird species
• Potential vectors for avian diseases
• Impact on poultry farming and wild bird conservation efforts

Do turkey mites serve any beneficial purpose in ecosystems? While they may seem entirely problematic, turkey mites do contribute to the natural balance of bird populations by acting as a limiting factor on their growth. However, when mite populations become excessive, they can pose significant threats to both wild and domesticated birds.

Turkey Mites vs. Other Common Parasites: Understanding the Differences

Distinguishing turkey mites from other parasitic pests is crucial for implementing the correct treatment and prevention strategies. Let’s compare turkey mites to some other common household and outdoor pests.

Comparative Analysis

How can you differentiate between turkey mite bites and other insect bites? While challenging, turkey mite bites often appear in clusters and are typically found on exposed skin areas. The presence of birds or nests near the affected area can also be a strong indicator.

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Turkey Mite Control

When dealing with turkey mite infestations, it’s important to consider the legal and ethical implications of various control methods, especially when they involve wildlife.

Key Considerations

• Protected bird species and nesting regulations
• Use of pesticides and potential environmental impacts
• Humane treatment of affected wildlife
• Responsibilities of property owners in pest management

Are there specific regulations governing turkey mite control methods? Regulations can vary by region, but many areas have laws protecting certain bird species and their nests. It’s crucial to consult local wildlife authorities or pest control professionals to ensure compliance with relevant regulations when addressing turkey mite infestations.

Innovative Approaches to Turkey Mite Management

As our understanding of turkey mites and their impact on both humans and wildlife evolves, new and innovative approaches to management are being developed. These methods aim to provide effective control while minimizing environmental impact and respecting wildlife.

Emerging Technologies and Strategies

• Bioacoustic deterrents to discourage bird nesting
• Eco-friendly repellents derived from natural compounds
• Advanced monitoring systems for early detection of infestations
• Biological control methods using natural predators of mites

What role does technology play in modern turkey mite control? Technological advancements are revolutionizing pest management, offering more precise, efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions. From smart sensors that detect mite activity to AI-powered prediction models for infestation risks, these innovations are shaping the future of turkey mite control.

As we continue to coexist with wildlife in urban and rural environments, the challenge of managing pests like turkey mites becomes increasingly complex. By combining scientific knowledge, ethical considerations, and innovative approaches, we can develop more effective and sustainable solutions to this persistent problem. Understanding the biology and behavior of turkey mites, recognizing their impact on both human health and ecosystems, and staying informed about the latest management techniques are all crucial steps in addressing this issue comprehensively.

Moreover, public education plays a vital role in successful turkey mite management. By raising awareness about these pests, their lifecycle, and prevention methods, communities can work together to reduce infestations and minimize human-wildlife conflicts. Collaboration between homeowners, pest control professionals, wildlife experts, and local authorities is essential for implementing holistic and effective management strategies.

As research in this field progresses, we may discover new insights into turkey mite behavior and ecology, potentially leading to even more targeted and efficient control methods. The ongoing challenge lies in balancing the need for pest control with the preservation of biodiversity and ecological balance. By approaching turkey mite management with a combination of scientific rigor, ethical consideration, and innovative thinking, we can hope to achieve a harmonious coexistence with the natural world while protecting human health and comfort.

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mehrere bisse von grasmilben auf einem männlichen bein – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

mehrere Bisse von Grasmilben auf einem männlichen Bein

menschliche füße mit verschiedenen allergischen reaktionen – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Menschliche Füße mit verschiedenen allergischen Reaktionen

Menschliche Füße mit verschiedenen allergischen Reaktionen auf Zeckenbisse mit selektivem Fokus

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kranke Katzenhaut

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Winzige Zecken

Ein typischer Sommerparasit in Europa. Kann gefährlich sein, weil die Krankheit, die sie tragen.

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eine Zecke sitzt auf dem Finger des Menschen im Wald auf…

Eine Zecke sitzt auf dem Finger des Menschen im Wald auf dem Wanderweg.

entfernung von enzephalitis-zecken nach dem biss. so entfernen sie milben. parasiten-übertragende krankheit. mit der lupe zecken finden. – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

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lyme-borreliose-krankheit oder enzephalitis virus infektiöse dermacentor tick arachnid parasiten makro. enzephalitis infiziertes zeckeninsekt auf grünem gras in der sonne des sommers. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Lyme-Borreliose-Krankheit oder Enzephalitis Virus infektiöse…

Enzephalitis infizierte Zeckeninsekt auf grünem Gras in der Sonne des Sommers. Lyme-Borreliose-Krankheit oder Enzephalitis-Virus infektiöse Dermacentor Zecken-Arachniden-Parasit Makro

lyme-borreliose. zeckenbiss auf den arm einer frau. allergie gegen insektenstiche. enzephalitis virus oder lyme-borreliose-krankheit infektiöse dermacentor tick arachnid parasitic insect. wunde und folgen nach einem biss. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Lyme-Borreliose. Zeckenbiss auf den Arm einer Frau. Allergie…

Wunde und Folgen nach einem Biss.

mädchen mit blonden haaren, sitzend mit dem rücken gedreht und kratzen gebissen, rot, geschwollene nackenhaut von mückenstichen im sommer im wald. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Mädchen mit blonden Haaren, sitzend mit dem Rücken gedreht und…

Mädchen mit blonden Haaren, sitzt mit gedrehtem Rücken und kratzt gebissene, rote, geschwollene Nackenhaut von Mückenstichen im Sommer im Wald. Nahaufnahme von sichtbaren Insektenstichen. Gereizte Haut.

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Staub Heap

lyme-borreliose – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Lyme-Borreliose

Nahaufnahme des Lyme-Flecks auf der menschlichen Haut – Borrelien, Lyme-Borreliose durch Zecke (Ixodes ricinus)

arzt entfernt eine zecke mit pinzette aus der hand des patienten – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Arzt entfernt eine Zecke mit Pinzette aus der Hand des Patienten

Ärztin entfernt eine Zecke mit einer Pinzette aus der Hand des Patienten. Enzephalitis, Borreliose und Lyme-Borreliose.

infizierte weibliche hirsche ticken auf haarige menschliche haut. ixodes ricinus. gefährliche milbe detail. acarus. infektiöse borreliose – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Infizierte weibliche Hirsche ticken auf haarige menschliche Haut.

gefährliche hirschzecken und kleine kinderbeine in sommerschuhen auf einem gras. ixodes ricinus – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Gefährliche Hirschzecken und kleine Kinderbeine in Sommerschuhen. ..

tick gehen auf einem menschlichen finger aus nächster nähe – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Tick gehen auf einem menschlichen Finger aus nächster Nähe

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Nahaufnahme der winzigen Zeckennymphe kriechen über menschliche…

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Tipps für das Design von Zeckensicherheitsvektoren

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Entfernung einer Hundezecke

Zecke – Tier, Hund, entfernend, parasitär, Hundezecke

die milbe beißt einen rötlichen hund – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Die Milbe beißt einen rötlichen Hund

entfernen von enzephalitis zecke der haut nach biss vektor illustration isoliert. – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Entfernen von Enzephalitis Zecke der Haut nach Biss Vektor…

Entfernung der Enzephalitis-Zecke der Haut nach dem Biss, Vektorillustration isoliert auf weißem Hintergrund. Infografik, die den richtigen Weg zeigt, Zeckeninsekten mit einer Pinzette zu entfernen.

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Igel-Zecke

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Tick nah auf einem weißen Hintergrund

häkchen auf weißem hintergrund. hundezecke. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Häkchen auf weißem Hintergrund. Hundezecke.

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Nahaufnahme einer Hirschzecke auf menschlicher Haut

zecke – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Zecke

Eine Zecke, die in die menschliche Haut beißt.

infektiöses parasitäres insekt dermacentor dog tick arachnid auf einem grünen pflanzenblatt. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Infektiöses parasitäres Insekt Dermacentor Dog Tick Arachnid auf…

ein fleißiges kleines insekt auf der handfläche eines mannes – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Ein fleißiges kleines Insekt auf der Handfläche eines Mannes

Ein weiches braunes kleines gestreiftes käferartiges Insekt mit Schnurrhaaren und nackten Füßen auf der Handfläche einer Person bei sonnigem Wetter

impfung gegen frühsommer-meningoenzephalitis mit impfausweis, spritze und zeckenzange – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Impfung gegen Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis mit Impfausweis,…

dermacentor, auch bekannt als die amerikanische levi zecke, ist eine gattung in der familie ixodidae, die harten zecken zecken – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Dermacentor, auch bekannt als die amerikanische Levi Zecke, ist…

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Warnschild vor Zecken

Warnschild vor Zecken, das am Waldrand an einen Baum befestigt ist

hand hält ein warnschild für zecken parasiten gefahr über dem park grünen rasen hintergrund. verschiedene bugbisse, gesundheitsrisiko, verursacht infektionen, lyme-borreliose und braucht dringende medizinische behandlung. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Hand hält ein Warnschild für Zecken Parasiten Gefahr über dem…

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Hirschzecke oder Ixodes scapularis kriechen auf grünem Gras,…

Hirschzecke oder Ixodes scapularis kriechen auf grünem Gras, Draufsicht, gefährliche Parasiten können Träger von Viren und Bakterien und anderen Krankheiten sein.

vektorverbotszeichen mit einer milbe. gefahr, von insekten gebissen zu werden und krank zu werden. bugs sind verboten. verbotenes schild – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Vektorverbotszeichen mit einer Milbe. Gefahr, von Insekten…

tote mücke an der hand des menschen nach tod – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Tote Mücke an der Hand des Menschen nach Tod

infektiöse enzephalitis ixodes scapularis oder persulcatus hirsch tick insekt auf der haut. enzephalitis virus oder lyme-borreliose-krankheit infiziert ixodes tick arachnid parasite nbiss makro. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Infektiöse Enzephalitis Ixodes Scapularis oder Persulcatus…

die zecke beißt die person – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Die Zecke beißt die person

Die Zecke beißt die Person, tief unter die Haut gesaugt.

läuse und käfer insekten symbol set illustration vektor – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Läuse und Käfer Insekten Symbol Set Illustration Vektor

Läuse und Käfer Insektensymbol Set Illustration Vektor

parasitäre hirschzecke wartet auf einem grünen blatt mit verschwommenem naturhintergrund. ixodes ricinus oder skapularis – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Parasitäre Hirschzecke wartet auf einem grünen Blatt mit…

gefährliche insekten, milben, mehr blut metall zange herausgezogen – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

gefährliche Insekten, Milben, mehr Blut Metall Zange. ..

Ein gefährliches Insekt, Milbe, mehr Blut aus Metallzange gezogen

ein kleiner welpe sitzt im frühjahr im grünen gras. die notwendigkeit, haustiere von zecken zu behandeln. sicheres gehen von haustieren auf der straße. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Ein kleiner Welpe sitzt im Frühjahr im grünen Gras. Die…

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Hirschzecke, Ixodes scapularis, auf Holzthermometer, bei…

Hirschzecke, Ixodes scapularis, auf Holzthermometer, mit steigenden Temperaturen im Frühjahr nimmt auch die Zeckenpopulation in Wäldern und Wiesen zu, Konzeptbild Nahaufnahme.

entfernen der zecke mit einer pinzette, infektionsgefahr für lyme-borreliose und zecke – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Entfernen der Zecke mit einer Pinzette, Infektionsgefahr für Lyme-

allergische reaktionen auf zeckenstiche – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

allergische Reaktionen auf Zeckenstiche

Menschliche Haut mit verschiedenen allergischen Reaktionen auf Zeckenstiche mit selektivem Fokus

vorbeugung von zeckenstichen, vorsorge borreliose. vektorillustration der medizinischen infografik der karikatur. vermeiden sie den hintergrund des milbendesign-banners – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Vorbeugung von Zeckenstichen, Vorsorge Borreliose….

mittel zum schutz vor zecken. schädlingsbekämpfung. ixodid-zecken. insektizide. zeckenspray. insektenschädlings-charaktere – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Mittel zum Schutz vor Zecken. Schädlingsbekämpfung. Ixodid-Zecken.

saugen tick makro-foto auf der menschlichen haut. ixodes ricinus. aufgeblähter parasit in rosa gereizte epidermis gebissen. kleine rote tropfen. gefährliche insektenmilbe. enzephalitis, lyme-borreliose-infektion – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Saugen Tick Makro-Foto auf der menschlichen Haut. Ixodes ricinus.

saugende zecke makrofoto auf menschlicher haut. ixodes ricinus. aufgeblähter parasit in rosa gereizte epidermis gebissen. kleine rote tropfen. gefährliche insektenmilbe. enzephalitis, borreliose-infektion – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Saugende Zecke Makrofoto auf menschlicher Haut. Ixodes ricinus….

Saugende Zecke Makrofoto auf der menschlichen Haut. Ixodes ricinus. Aufgeblähter Parasit in rosa gereizte Epidermis gebissen. Kleine rote Tropfen. Gefährliche Insektmilbe. Enzephalitis, Lyme-Borreliose-Infektion.

ein katzenhalsband gegen zecken und flöhe mit natürlichem schöllkraut- und lavendelöl. natürliche abwehr von blutsaugenden insekten für ein haustier, das im freien spazieren geht – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Ein Katzenhalsband gegen Zecken und Flöhe mit natürlichem Schöllkr

herzwurmerkrankung bei hunden. bearbeitbare vektorillustration. – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Herzwurmerkrankung bei Hunden. Bearbeitbare Vektorillustration.

eine räuberische parasitäre zecke kriecht entlang des menschlichen körpers. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Eine räuberische parasitäre Zecke kriecht entlang des…

mädchen mit blonden haaren, sitzt mit dem rücken und kratzt sich an gebissener, roter, geschwollener halshaut von mückenstichen im sommer. nahaufnahme von sichtbaren insektenstichen. gereizte haut. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Mädchen mit blonden Haaren, sitzt mit dem Rücken und kratzt sich…

mädchen kratzt sich im sommer an gebissener, roter, geschwollener halshaut von mückenstichen. nahaufnahme von sichtbaren insektenstichen. gereizte haut. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Mädchen kratzt sich im Sommer an gebissener, roter,…

warnschild vorsicht tickt auf russisch. das konzept der biologischen sicherheit. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Warnschild Vorsicht tickt auf Russisch. Das Konzept der…

krätze beim menschen infografik – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Krätze beim Menschen Infografik

katze mit milbe unter lupe. tierklinik. haustier-parasiten. symbol für dünne linie. vektor-illustration. – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Katze mit Milbe unter Lupe. Tierklinik. Haustier-Parasiten….

von termiten beschädigte holzschichten. tote termiten. – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Von Termiten beschädigte Holzschichten. Tote Termiten.

frau sprüht insekten- oder mückenschutzmittel auf einen kleinen jungen vor einem spaziergang im wald. schützen sie kinder vor mücken und anderen insekten. sommeraktivitäten für familien mit kind – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Frau sprüht Insekten- oder Mückenschutzmittel auf einen kleinen…

die orange getigerte katze wurde zum juckreiz am ganzen körper, vektorillustration. – mite bite stock-grafiken, -clipart, -cartoons und -symbole

Die orange getigerte Katze wurde zum Juckreiz am ganzen Körper,…

hirsch-tick auf der haut – mite bite stock-fotos und bilder

Hirsch-Tick auf der Haut

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What’s Biting Me in the Woods? » Kowalski Mountain

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Our trips to the homestead can be brutal in the late summer months. It never fails that I get eaten up by what I have called chiggers for many years. However the locals, all say the same thing, likely I was bitten by turkey mites. In all the places I have lived, I had never heard of turkeys mites and really thought that it was just local terminology. However, I’ve reached the point where I need to know, what exactly finds me so irresistible and how can I fight back! Chiggers versus turkey mites, what is the difference?

What are Chiggers?

Technically chiggers are not insects at all but are arachnids, in the same family as spiders and ticks. They are better known as mites. While chiggers prefer tall grass-like fields and wooded areas they can also be found in your yard. They are most active in the warmer months of the year when temperatures reach 77 to 86 degrees. Fortunately, the chigger larvae die as temperatures drop below 42 degrees.

Chigger. Stock photo from Canva

Adult chiggers are extremely tiny, only about 1/60th of an inch in size. Adult chiggers are not dangerous to humans, it is the larvae that cause such irritation. The larvae are even more tiny, only about 1/150th of an inch. They are practically invisible to the naked eye, however since they are typically clustered in large numbers, they may appear as a tiny red dot on the skin.

Chiggers prefer brushy and grassy areas that stay moist during the day. The larvae can’t fly, so they remain clustered together waiting for passing hosts. The larvae are strictly parasitic, seeking hosts where they can feed.

How Do Chiggers Bite?

Once chiggers attach to a host, they seek exposed skin areas. Often the mite bites will be in places where clothing fits tightly. They are most likely to be found around your ankles, lower legs, behind your knees, groin, and waist. Once they locate exposed skin, the chigger larvae pierce the skin and use digestive enzymes in their saliva to liquefy the exposed skin cells. They feed off the dissolved skin tissue. Once attached to a host, the chiggers can remain attached for several days while they feed.

Identifying a Chigger Bite

Within a few hours, the chigger bites will begin to itch. The intense itching can often keep you awake at night. The bites will become red welts or blisters. Often these bites will be in straight lines. I have to admit, I have not noticed the straight lines of bites, but I will certainly try to pay more attention. Thankfully chiggers don’t carry diseases, however, the secondary infections caused by scratching can cause problems.

What are Turkey Mites?

Entomologists agree that the villain known as a turkey mite is actually the larval form of Lone Star Ticks. Click to see a photo here. They are also known as seed ticks or turkey ticks. The best description I read was “they are similar to chiggers, except worse.” Deer are actually the most prominent host of the Lone Star ticks, however wild turkeys and other ground-feeding birds are also hosts to Lone Star Ticks. Turkeys are blamed for the more widespread distribution of the Lone Star Tick due to the increase of the turkey population over the last 50 years. Lone Star Ticks can be found all over the south, and the central United States.

Life Cycle of a Tick

Ticks have four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. Other than the egg stage, the remaining three stages of life depend on the ticks finding a parasitic host to survive. While some ticks prefer the same host for all stages, most find a different host for each stage of development. Ticks find their hosts as they can detect the breath, body odors, heat, and moisture of their hosts. Like chiggers, they like tall grasses and wooded areas. Ticks also can not fly or jump, but they wait in a position ready to attach to a host called questing. Ticks stand holding their front legs at the ready. When a host walk by, they are prepared to latch on. Lone star ticks are aggressive ticks and will host on humans at all three stages of development.

How Do Ticks Bite?

Once a lone star tick larva or turkey mite finds a host, it cut the skin and inserts its feeding tube. The feeding tube of ticks has barbs that help them attach to the host. Ticks in all stages of development suck blood from their host. It’s during this feeding time that the host can be exposed to the spread of diseases.

Adult Lone Star Tick. Stock Photo from Canva

Some sources indicated that the larvae stage of ticks doesn’t typically spread tick-borne infections as it is the first stage of feeding and likely the ticks have not encountered diseases from other hosts. However other sources indicate that there is evidence of transmission of Rocky Mountain fever and other diseases at even the larvae stage of development. Anyone exposed to tick bites, should be mindful of signs of infection. Thankfully, Lone Start ticks are not carriers of Lyme disease.

Identifying Turkey Mite Bites

Unfortunately, turkey mite bites look very similar to chigger bites. Turkey mites create red, rash-like bites. These small bumps become inflamed, swollen, and may blister. Itchy outbreaks can occur all over the body. The one constant difference between the two types of bites is that the severe itching is much more severe with turkey mites than with chiggers. The symptoms can last up to three weeks.

Prevention: Chiggers Versus Turkey Mites

As with any bug bite, prevention is the best course of action. I will admit, that I have not practiced good prevention when it comes to turkey mites. Most sources indicate that insect repellents containing 20% DEET are an effective treatment to prevent tick bites. While I know that may be effective, I am not a fan of spraying poison on my skin on a daily basis. However, since Kentucky will soon be our permanent home, I need to come up with a plan of how to prevent insect bites.

Exposed to turkey mites while working in high grasses.

Tuck it in!

To prevent exposed skin, always wear long pants in areas prone to ticks. Many experts suggest tucking your pants into your socks or boots to minimize the exposure to the lower legs.

Roll Ticks Away

Recently on Instagram, Ann of all Trades, shared a cool tick hack that I heard for the first time. After hiking or walking through areas likely to include ticks, go over your clothes with a lint roller. Ticks that are still crawling on your clothes can be removed before they make their way to a person’s skin. This works for animals too. Be sure to roll down your dog to find any loose ticks before you let the dog in your home.

Clothing Treatments

Years ago, my family used to backpack in Alaska. For mosquito bite prevention, I treated our clothing with permethrin. I have to admit, I had completely forgotten about this treatment method. Soaking clothes in permethrin creates a long-lasting shield against tiny ticks. Treatments are long-lasting and can hold up multiple washings.

Concentrated forms of permethrin need to be diluted to the recommended 0. 5% strength solution recommended for treating fabrics. Once diluted, soak clothes in the solution for several hours, allowing the items of clothing to become completely saturated with the permethrin solution. Clothing can be soaked in batches in buckets or individual items in a plastic bag. Hang clothes to dry. Once dry, wear as usual. The good news is that the treated clothing will be effective in repelling insects for up to six weeks, or six washings! Don’t forget to treat your boots as well!

While I realize that permethrin is a poisonous chemical, I personally feel this method is a safer method than spraying poison directly on my skin and clothes on a regular basis. When treating clothes with permethrin, take all necessary precautions, wear gloves, work outside, be mindful of treatment materials and dispose of them safely.

You can tell I have been scratching.

How to Treat Affected Areas

While prevention is always best, what do you do if you find yourself in the same predicament as me? The itching starts as a simple irritation, but progresses to an intense itching that makes you want to rip your own skin off! Please be aware, we are not healthcare professionals, the information provided is for informational purposes only. When seeking medical advice, please contact your healthcare provider.

Shower Soon After Exposure

After exposing yourself to turkey mites, it is best to shower with hot water and scrub affected areas. If you find any attached ticks, use tweezers or a tick removal tool to grasp the head of the tick as close to your skin as possible and remove it. Some sources recommend soaking in a bath with 1/2 cup of bleach for at least 15 minutes.

Topical Permethrin 

My friend, Angela Magney owner of Magney Legacy Ridge Farm and fellow Kentuckian, messaged me right away when I shared my agony. She said that her family uses the cheap Walmart brand lice shampoo. I used this for the first time this year, I actually found this lotion to be very soothing. However, I think it’s best used after initial exposure to prevent the turkey mites from attaching. Lice treatment spray is a topical permethrin-based spray that is safe for your skin. My case was far too advanced for this to be effective.

Treating the Itch: Chiggers versus Turkey Mites

In my experience, calamine lotion is not effective in treating turkey mites. In recent years, I have used a triple approach. This is what I have done personally, please seek professional medical attention if needed. I first wipe down the affected skin with isopropyl alcohol. While this burns, it does help prevent infection. Try as I might, I can’t help but scratch.

Next, I apply Tecnu Calagel Anti Itch Gel and I also spray with a topical analgesic Tecnu Rash Relief Spray. Yes, I use both, desperate times call for desperate measures. This combination seems to be the best at keeping the itching at bay, however, I haven’t found anything that makes it completely stop. The itching can last for weeks after exposure.

My triple treatment method.

Return of Cold Weather Brings Relief

Both chiggers and turkey mites flourish in the high heat of spring, late summer, and fall. The return of cold weather will kill off the chiggers at temperatures lower than 42 degrees. While the lone star ticks will become inactive in fall and winter, the temperature needs to be below 10 degrees for several days to kill the adult population. During this time period of inactivity, we can enjoy a slight respite from turkey mites. Personally, I look forward to the cooler months when I can enjoy the homestead without having to worry about being exposed to turkey mites. Until then, I will need to be vigilant to evade this nearly invisible nemesis.

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About the Author: Barbra-Sue Kowalski grew up on a small hobby farm. She was always drawn to farm life, however, she was stuck in an urban life far from her roots. Barbra-Sue was a single mom for 13 years, raising her 3 children on her own. She met Philip in 2018 and they married in 2021. Between the two of them, they have 5 grown children and 4 grandchildren. These empty nesters are following their dreams! As they both turn 50, they are building their off-grid homestead to live the life that they dream about. Learn more about Philip and Barbra-Sue here. Contact them here. To leave a comment on this post, please scroll down.

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Tick bite. Tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Symptoms, prevention and treatment

A carefree holiday in nature can be overshadowed by a tick bite.

In the hot weather of the spring-summer season, ticks wait for their prey, sitting in the grass or bushes. When a person appears, insects move from foliage to clothes, move along it in search of an open area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe body to which they can attach. To bite, ticks choose warm, moist areas of the skin where the blood vessels are not deep (neck, head, armpits, buttocks, the area between the shoulder blades, earlobes, calf muscles).

When bitten, ticks inject an anesthetic into the skin of the victim, so this goes unnoticed.

After saturation, the males quickly fall off the person, and the females can stay on their prey for several more days, having managed to lay up to 2 thousand eggs and increase to 10 mm in diameter.

Attention! Very often, ticks are carriers of such dangerous diseases as systemic borreliosis and tick-borne viral encephalitis!

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90 032 Symptoms of encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis is a seasonal viral disease. Encephalitis enters the human body after the bite of an infected tick or when drinking milk from infected cows or goats.

On average, clinical signs of the disease appear one month after the encephalitic tick bite.

Depending on the manifestation of symptoms, tick-borne encephalitis develops in 3 forms:

• focal form – observed in 20% of patients;
• febrile form – occurs in 50% of patients;
• meningeal form – in 30%.

With focal form of tick-borne encephalitis (the most severe form of the disease), the infection penetrates into the substance of the spinal cord and brain. The following signs of a tick bite are observed: chills, convulsions, a strong increase in temperature (above 40 degrees), the appearance of lethargy and drowsiness.

Depending on which part of the brain or spinal cord is affected, symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, cardiac and respiratory disorders, paralysis and paresis of the muscles of the shoulder and neck, impaired voluntary movements, etc. may be present.

Febrile encephalitis lasts up to 10 days. The disease is undulating in nature, then subsiding, then reappearing in the form of a fever. But weakness, palpitations and sweating persist for a long time.

Menigeal shape . With this form of the disease, inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord and brain occurs. Within 2 weeks, the patient has a severe headache (in which pills do not help), neck muscle tension, vomiting, fever, fever.

Systemic tick-borne borreliosis (or Lyme disease)

Lyme disease was first identified in the US city of Lyme in 1975.

Lyme disease agent – the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which belongs to the spirochetes. The causative agent of the disease enters the cells of the body and remains dormant for 10 years. This explains the chronic nature of the disease. A patient with borreliosis is not contagious for others, since the infection is transmitted to a person only through a tick bite.

Symptoms of borreliosis

The disease begins 1-2 weeks after infection. In its development, the disease goes through 3 stages. Moreover, stages 1-2 are considered early, and stage 3 is chronic.

Stage 1 borreliosis lasts about a month. Signs of a tick bite resemble acute respiratory infections. A person has a fever, general malaise, body aches, muscle pain and weakness appear.

The main symptom of stage 1 is the appearance near the bite of a round red spot (erythema) with a diameter of 15-20 cm. Over time, the spot may increase in size.

Stage 2 disease lasts for 6 months. Skin lesions in the form of ring-shaped elements, urticaria are characteristic.

Infection spreads throughout the body through the blood and lymph circulation, resulting in damage to the nervous system, joints or heart.

With inflammation of the cardiovascular system, severe arrhythmias, pericarditis and myocarditis (dizziness, palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath) are observed. There may also be a decrease in sensitivity.

Stage 3 borreliosis . The disease becomes chronic. The consequences of borreliosis are heart disease, serious inflammation of the joints, combined with extensive damage to the nervous system.

If a disease such as borreliosis is left untreated, it can lead to disability and even death.

With the correct diagnosis of borreliosis and adequate antibiotic therapy, there is a chance for recovery.

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First Aid in case of a tick bite

Immediately after a tick bite, try to go to the nearest emergency room. A qualified doctor will quickly and skillfully save you from an insect.

In specialized hospitals, if necessary, according to indications, emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis is carried out by administering immunoglobulin or another antiviral drug in the first three days after a tick bite. In order to prevent tick-borne borreliosis, a course of antibiotic treatment is carried out.

If the visit to the doctor is delayed for any reason, you can try to remove it yourself. However, it often happens that during self-extraction, the insect breaks in half, and the head remains in the wound.

It is necessary, by making counterclockwise movements, to “twist” the insect out of the skin. Keep the tick as close to the skin as possible to prevent tearing of the abdomen. In this case, the fingers must be wrapped with a bandage or gauze.

You can try to remove the tick with a thread: wrap the proboscis of the tick as close to the skin as possible and, performing swinging movements, slowly pull the insect out.

After the manipulations, the bite site must be treated with a solution of iodine or alcohol. The tick must be closed in a vessel with a tightly screwed lid and brought to the laboratory for examination for the presence of the borreliosis virus and tick-borne encephalitis.

What you need to know about a tick bite?

Even if you manage to get rid of a tick, pay attention to changes in your health. If you have a fever, a change in blood pressure or severe headaches, you must urgently make an appointment with an infectious disease specialist, take a blood test for tick-borne borreliosis and encephalitis.

In some cases, you may need to consult a cardiologist, neurologist, general practitioner, rheumatologist, infectious disease specialist.

The material was prepared with the participation of a specialist:

• Kirichenko Alexey Viktorovich

  Traumatologist, orthopedist

  Second qualification category

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What a tick looks like and bites

A hungry tick can hardly be distinguished from some harmless spider. It will fit in a notebook cage: its length is only 4 mm. The tick has a tightly “linked” abdomen with the head, 8 legs. There is a proboscis on its head, with the help of which it bites through the skin and digs into the victim.

Tick that did not have time to drink blood, small: you need to have high sensitivity to feel its movements on the skin

Tick saliva, like many blood-sucking ones, has an analgesic effect. This allows him to work imperceptibly and stick for a long time. Sometimes a tick can drink blood for up to 5 days if it has not been found on the body before.

The anatomy of a tick allows it to swell as it saturates – up to 10 mm. Therefore, by the size of the sucked tick, one can roughly determine how long it has been drinking blood. If the parasite is small, most likely, not much time has passed since the bite. For a doctor, the size of the parasite can be an important indicator: the longer the tick sucks blood, the greater the dose of pathogens it will have time to transmit to the victim.

This is what a well-fed tick looks like. He can suck blood for several days, then disappears

It is precisely the sucked mites that are dangerous. While the parasite is crawling over the body, it cannot infect its victim with anything. The bloodsucker chooses a place for a bite carefully and, in search of a suitable site, can examine the skin for several hours.

However, cases are known when infected patients claimed to have noticed a tick before it had time to stick. Perhaps the tick is “testing” some areas of the skin in search of an ideal place to bite – and this is enough to transmit the infection.

Most often, ticks bite between the fingers and buttocks, in the groin, under the knees, in the waist, under the arm, on the neck, behind the ears, on the scalp.

A small red spot with a diameter of up to 1 cm remains at the site of the bite – as from a mosquito bite.

Ticks choose to bite warm areas with thin and delicate skin – where blood vessels are close

What to do if a tick has stuck

The main rule is to remove it without sudden movements and the sooner the better.

The choice of tactics depends on the situation. If there is an emergency room nearby, it is advisable to seek help there.

If there is no way to quickly get to the doctor, it is reasonable to get rid of the tick yourself.

How to properly remove a tick

It is safer to do this with rubber gloves or through a plastic bag. It is easier to protect the skin this way: if an infected tick is accidentally crushed, it is possible to become infected even through small wounds and cuts on the fingers.

How to remove a tick yourself:

1. Take tweezers. Sometimes it is advised to use a strong thread or a special lasso pen to remove a tick (these are sold in pharmacies), but Rospotrebnadzor recommends tweezers. You cannot pull out the tick with your hands.
2. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. If a thread is used, it must be carefully tied around the proboscis, but not too tight so as not to cut the body of the parasite. It is impossible to squeeze the tick: viruses and bacteria are concentrated in its insides. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use oil, nail polish or burn it out with a match to remove the tick. Under the influence of aggressive irritants, the tick begins to suffocate and can release a large amount of infected fluid into the wound – saliva or intestinal contents.
3. With effort, but slowly and calmly pull up, slightly swinging. If a thread is used, its ends must be pulled apart, pulled and lifted. At the same time, it is not recommended to pull out or pull the tick, because the head or part of the oral apparatus, together with the salivary glands, can come off and remain in the wound. Then the infection will continue even after the removal of the parasite.
4. Treat the bite site and hands with an antibacterial agent (eg, iodine or chlorhexidine solution). If neither is available, use soap and water.
5. Submit a tick for analysis. To do this, it must be placed in a jar or container. Close the container with a double layer of gauze or any other fabric, secure tightly with an elastic band.

It is important to grasp the stuck tick correctly so as not to damage it and pull it out completely

Externally infected ticks do not differ from others. Whether the parasite is contagious or not, a PCR test will show.

It is advisable to put a damp cotton pad or blade of grass into the container with the tick. So it is more likely that the bloodsucker will reach the laboratory alive. Then the result of the study will be as accurate as possible.

In the body of a dried and crushed tick, pathogens are more difficult to identify. Foreign substances such as oil or gasoline, in which ticks removed from the body are often soaked, also make research difficult.

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What to do if you cannot remove the tick completely

If the head or proboscis of the tick remains in the wound, they must be removed with sterile tweezers or a needle in the same way as a splinter is removed.

If you are not sure that it will be possible to do this efficiently and painlessly at home, it is better to go to the emergency room or the clinic to the surgeon.

Manifestation of allergy to a tick bite

Allergy is indicated by redness, swelling and burning in the bite area. They occur immediately after the tick is sucked or within 2 days. The reaction is caused by allergens contained in the saliva of the parasite. After taking antihistamines, symptoms usually disappear after 24 to 48 hours.

The development of a severe allergy can be suspected when, after a bite, lacrimation, sneezing, nasal congestion, headache, cough, suffocation appear. To prevent anaphylaxis (an acute allergic reaction, a life-threatening condition), an emergency ambulance is required.

In any case, even mild allergy symptoms should not be ignored. There is a risk of confusing them with the first signs of infectious diseases transmitted by ticks.

What diseases can a tick infect

Ixodid ticks are carriers of a number of viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Once in the blood of humans and animals, these pathogens cause infectious diseases.

The most common of them are: tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. They can be identified by laboratory tests. It is preferable to take a removed tick for analysis.

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However, if the tick cannot be saved, the blood of the bitten can be examined. An analysis for pathogens carried by the parasite will be indicative as early as 10 days after a tick bite – in the viremia phase, when the pathogen circulates in the blood. Accurate diagnosis will help to start treatment on time, thereby reducing the risk of possible complications.

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Tick-borne encephalitis

Viral tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an acute infectious disease. It is caused by a pathogen from the flavivirus family. The pathogen lives and develops in the salivary glands of the tick. When the parasite bites another victim, the virus enters the bloodstream. This is how infection occurs.

You can become infected with tick-borne encephalitis if you drink the raw milk of infected goats and cows. The virus in dairy products dies only during pasteurization.

The severity of the disease depends on the virus subtype. When infected with the Far Eastern subtype, there is a high probability of developing a severe form of tick-borne encephalitis. And diseases caused by the Siberian subtype of the virus more often become chronic. But any subtype of the virus can cause the entire spectrum of clinical forms of tick-borne encephalitis – from mild febrile or asymptomatic to severe focal.

TBE virus is a neurotropic virus. That is, it acts purposefully – it hits the central nervous system. Therefore, in about a third of patients, the infection affects the brain and spinal cord. Meningoencephalitis may develop, which leads to serious and often irreversible neurological consequences: paralysis, tremor of the limbs, speech and vision disorders, etc. According to statistics, about 2% of cases of the disease end in the death of the patient.

The course of the disease is determined by the behavior of the virus in the blood of the infected. There are various forms of infection, including:

• febrile – characterized by an increase in body temperature against the background of general intoxication (symptoms as in ARVI). This form responds well to treatment and rarely leads to complications;
• meningeal – the most common form in which the virus infects the membranes of the spinal cord and brain;
• meningoencephalitic – brain cells are affected by the virus;
• poliomyelitis – the virus mainly affects the neurons of the spinal cord;
• polyradiculoneuritis – with this form, peripheral nerves suffer, which can lead to ascending paralysis (complete loss of movement, which starts from the legs and spreads upwards, gradually captures the torso, arms, muscles of the face, pharynx, larynx, tongue).

The focal form of tick-borne encephalitis is characterized by a two-wave course. In this case, the acute phase of the disease proceeds in two stages. There is a clear (asymptomatic) gap between them, which can be mistaken for recovery. It lasts 1-3 weeks, after which the second wave comes. As a rule, it proceeds harder than the first.

The incubation period lasts up to 28 days, although there is also a rapid onset of the disease the very next day after the bite. Regardless of the form, the symptoms are approximately the same at the initial stage of the disease.

Moreover, there may be no obvious manifestations by which tick-borne encephalitis can be easily recognized. Usually this is a typical condition for infections: weakness, chills, high temperature (up to 38–39 ° C), pain in muscles and joints.

To prevent complications, patients are given anti-tick immunoglobulin or normal human immunoglobulin .

Anti-tick human immunoglobulin is a specially purified blood serum from a donor who has been ill with tick-borne encephalitis.

Normal human immunoglobulin is a serum that contains a spectrum of non-specific protective proteins. They do not target a specific pathogen.

However, in the WHO recommendations for the treatment of tick-borne encephalitis, this measure is considered insufficient and does not guarantee 100% protection against the disease. In addition, immunoglobulin is only effective during the first 72 hours after a tick bites.

Vaccination remains the only reliable way to prevent severe encephalitis. The standard scheme involves the introduction of 2-3 doses of the vaccine, depending on the drug. Immunity begins to develop 2 weeks after the second injection. Therefore, it is important to get vaccinated before the tick season.

There is also an accelerated regimen where the vaccine is given twice, 7 to 30 days apart, to provide the necessary protection.

After infection, IgM antibodies appear in the blood after 3–7 days. These are early antibodies, they are not able to neutralize the virus. If you donate blood for analysis during this period, the presence of these antibodies will indicate the acute phase of the disease.

Over the next 2 weeks, the IgM titer gradually decreases, but the titer of late IgG antibodies increases. They neutralize the virus. At the same time, an additional defense mechanism is launched – the complement system. That is, immunity builds up strength to fight infection.

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Borreliosis (Lyme disease)

Tick-borne borreliosis is an acute bacterial infection. Its pathogens are the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and several other types of Borrelia (Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, etc.). The disease affects the central nervous system, joints, skin and heart.

It is believed that infection with borreliosis is unlikely if the tick has drunk blood for no longer than 2 hours. This is due to the fact that there are no or very few Borrelia in the parasite’s saliva – bacteria live in its intestines. When a tick attaches itself and drinks blood, microorganisms gradually move into the salivary glands of the parasite. And then with saliva they enter the blood of the bitten.

But even if the sucking tick was quickly noticed and removed, the possibility of infection cannot be ruled out. The exact answer, whether the tick was a carrier of the disease, will be given by the study of the parasite by PCR.

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The incubation period for borreliosis lasts 7-14 days. The disease can be recognized by its characteristic symptom – erythema migrans. This is a ring-shaped skin rash with a bright red center. At the initial stage, erythema grows, then turns pale.

Erythema migrans in borreliosis may appear at the site of a tick bite or on any other area of ​​the skin

According to other symptoms, borreliosis is easily confused with influenza and SARS: high fever, chills, headache, pain in muscles and joints, swollen lymph nodes.

Borreliosis often affects the meninges, peripheral nerves and roots, including cranial nerves, at the same time. In this case, in general, the disease proceeds in a mild form. Patients may be disturbed by weakness of facial muscles on one side of the face or bilateral (impossible to smile, puff out cheeks or frown), shooting pains in the arms, legs, neck, back and lower back, headache, numbness of the extremities.

Often, borreliosis occurs in a latent form without erythema and can make itself felt several months and even years after infection.

If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, you should consult a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist. To clarify the diagnosis, a specialist may prescribe a blood test for antibodies to borreliosis:

• class M antibodies are found in the acute phase of the disease,
• class G antibodies are produced a few weeks after the encounter with the pathogen.

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At an early stage, borreliosis is treated with antibiotics. Without timely treatment, the disease can become chronic.

Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis

These are pathogens similar in type and course of infection.

Monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Ehrlichia). Microorganisms infect monocytes (white blood cells), blood vessels, as well as cells of other organs and tissues.

The causative agent of anaplasmosis, the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, attacks granulocytes: cells of the immune system.

The incubation period for these diseases is usually 14 days. Infections are latent or flu-like in symptoms: fever, chills, sweating, weakness, headache, less often nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. With ehrlichiosis, a maculopapular rash may appear on the body.

Rash characteristic of monocytic ehrlichiosis: flat, pale red patches that do not spread to the palms and soles of the feet

Infections provoke the development of DIC – this is a blood clotting disorder in which blood clots form, bleeding occurs, the kidneys and liver fail, and the work of several body systems is inhibited at once. This condition is called multiple organ failure and, in severe cases, leads to coma.

Infections can be diagnosed either by examining the tick or by testing the blood of the bitten person. True, the second analysis will be informative no earlier than 10 days after the bite.

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Antibiotics are used to treat these infections. The sooner treatment is started, the lower the chance of complications. Usually, a weekly course of medication is enough for the disease to recede.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate into erythrocytes. In them, babesia multiply, and then destroy and continue to capture new red blood cells.

The incubation period is about 2 weeks. At this time, babesia actively multiply in the blood. The disease makes itself felt when there are too many damaged red blood cells.

Babesiosis is characterized by the same manifestations as in ARVI or influenza:

• fatigue,
• chills,
• headache,
• pain in muscles and joints.

In addition, babesiosis has symptomatic features in common with malaria:

• hemolytic anemia with jaundice,
• hematuria (blood in urine),
• acute renal failure,
• enlargement of the liver and spleen.

Possible severe course with the development of DIC and multiple organ failure.

Babesiosis can be suspected by abnormalities in some laboratory parameters:

• reduced levels of erythrocytes, platelets and hemoglobin in the general blood test;
• elevated levels of liver enzymes in a biochemical blood test.

The disease is confirmed after the detection of the parasites themselves in erythrocytes – when examining a thin smear or a drop of blood.

Clinical blood test with leukocyte formula and ESR (with microscopy of a blood smear in case of pathological changes) (venous blood)

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The disease occurs in a particularly severe form in people with reduced immunity. Babesiosis can develop rapidly in them. Typical symptoms are high fever, anemia, jaundice, and kidney failure.

Often with mild babesiosis in people without concomitant diseases, the immune system copes with the infection on its own. If complications arise, antiparasitic drugs are used to treat babesiosis

How to protect yourself from an encounter with ticks

Absolute protection against ticks does not exist, even if you completely refuse to go to the forest. Meeting ticks is much easier than it seems: they can live anywhere there is soil and grass.

Ticks wake up when the air warms up to 5-7°C, that is, already in March-April, depending on the region. On average, the epidemiological season for tick-borne infections lasts from April to October.

Precautions for hikes and outings:

• Choose light-colored clothing with no patterns or minimalist prints to make it easier to spot ticks.
• Prefer tall shoes and closed clothing with tight cuffs and fasteners.
• Tuck the hems of clothing into shoes and cloth gloves.
• Don’t forget a headdress that covers the hair and ideally protects the neck (for example, a scarf).
• For additional protection, treat clothing with special sprays or ointments (repellants) that repel ticks specifically. They should contain anti-mite components, such as cypermethrin and alpha-cypermethrin.
• Do not pitch your tent on grass, only on sand or bare ground.
• Do not buy homemade milk and dairy products.

General safety rules for high tick season:

• After returning from a walk, shake out clothes: mites do not bite through the fabric, but they can crawl over it for a long time in search of an open area of ​​​​skin.
• Thoroughly examine yourself and your loved ones with whom you went for a walk.
• Comb hair with a fine comb.
• Comb and inspect pets that go outside: ticks can bite pets or move from their coat to a person.
• Do not bring home bouquets of wildflowers and herbs.

The risk of encountering ticks remains until autumn. Only with the first cold weather do they leave for wintering in the upper layers of the forest floor – until the next year.

Sources

1. Tactics of managing a patient after a tick bite / FGBOU VO RNIMU them. N.I. Pirogov, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation GBUZ “ICB No. 1 DZM”, FGBNU “FNCIRIP them.