The infectious disease specialist warned about the risks of young tick bites

Young Ixodid mites can be dangerous due to their small size and difficulty in detection. They are capable of carrying tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis and other infections. On July 17, infectious disease specialist Evgenia Dayeva told Izvestia about this.

According to the expert, the nymphs of ticks have a thinner and sharper oral apparatus compared to adults. Due to this, they can penetrate deeper into the skin and become more tightly fixed, which increases the risk of tearing off a part of the parasite when trying to remove it with ordinary tweezers.

"When trying to remove with tweezers without a special tool (for example, a pincer), the head and proboscis often come off and remain in the skin, since the chitinous covering of the nymph is thinner and the attachment is more dense. Fragmentation leads to inflammation, suppuration and increases the risk of infection, because salivary glands and pathogens remain at the bite site," explained Dayeva.

The infectious disease specialist noted that there is no confirmed evidence that nymphs transmit borrelia or the tick-borne encephalitis virus faster than adults precisely because of the lower volume of saliva. At the same time, nymphs can be no less dangerous, because their small size makes them harder to notice on the body, which means they stay stuck for longer.

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According to the doctor, borrelia transmission usually requires 24-48 hours of suction, whereas the tick—borne encephalitis virus can be transmitted much faster - sometimes as early as the first 15-30 minutes. The treatment regimen for Lyme disease does not depend on which stage of the tick caused the bite, but is determined by the symptoms, stage of the disease, and the presence of complications.

Dayeva also said that acaricidal agents with permethrin are effective against nymphs and adult ticks. At the same time, due to the thinner chitinous coat, young individuals may be more sensitive to the effects of the substance. However, the product does not destroy the parasite instantly, but immobilizes it, so it is important to properly handle clothes and follow the instructions.

To protect against bites, the specialist recommended wearing light-colored closed clothing, using skin repellents and acaricidal products for things, and avoiding tall grass and thickets. During a walk, you should regularly inspect exposed areas of the body and check the skin after returning home, especially in the armpits, groin, neck, behind the ears and scalp.

If an infected tick is found, the infectious disease specialist advises using a special removal tool or contacting the emergency room. Do not pull out the parasite with your fingers, pour oil on it, or use other household methods, as this may increase the risk of the tick's contents entering the wound and complicate removal.

Natalia Kolomiets, a doctor at the DNCOM laboratory, a general practitioner, and a pediatrician, spoke on July 10 about common mistakes after a tick bite. According to the expert, after a bite, many people focus on their well-being and do nothing if there is no fever, weakness or characteristic redness around the area of contact with the arthropod. The doctor warned that in the early stages, some diseases that these bloodsuckers carry may occur without pronounced symptoms, and called this approach wrong.