Ticks: How to protect yourself and what to do in the event of a bite

Blog/Ticks: How to protect yourself and what to do in the event of a bite

Sunny days are often commensurate with walks in the countryside, picnics in the forest or games in the garden. But be careful: ticks, small arachnids that are invisible to the naked eye, can change these relaxing moments into a real health concern. Some ticks can, in fact, transmit serious diseases such as borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease. Here is our advice on how to protect yourself effectively – and how to act quickly in the event of a bite.

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Why do you need to watch out for ticks?

Ticks live in long grass, undergrowth, forests and even in some urban gardens. They attach themselves to the skin to feed on blood. What’s the danger? Some ticks carry bacteria or viruses that can cause infections, the most well-known is Lyme disease.

Children and people who spend time outdoors (walkers, gardeners, dog-walkers) are particularly at risk.

5 good habits to avoid tick bites

Keep your skin covered: wear long clothing that is light coloured (so that you can spot ticks more easily) and closed-toed shoes.
Tuck your trousers into your socks when walking in the woods or in high grass.
Use a suitable repellent, especially in high-risk areas.
Avoid going into the long grass and undergrowth as much as possible.
Inspect your body (and your children’s) systematically after every outing: scalp, ears, armpits, back of the knees, the navel, genital areas etc.

What you should do in the event of a tick bite

Don’t panic, but act quickly to minimise the risk of transmission of Lyme disease bacteria:

Don’t use disinfectant before pulling out the tick. This could cause the tick to regurgitate. This would then release the Borrelia bacteria, which is present in ticks’ saliva and is responsible for Lyme disease.
Remove the tick as soon as possible using a tick-puller sold in pharmacies. Do not use tweezers, because you risk crushing the tick. Get hold of the tick as close to the skin as possible and turn the tick-puller in a gentle anti-clockwise movement.
Disinfect the area once it has been removed.
Make a note of the date and location of the bite in case you need to follow-up on it.
Monitor the appearance of symptoms over the following days or weeks: a red circle around the bite, fever, unusual fatigue, muscle or joint pain.
Consult a doctor if a suspected symptom occurs.

In which cases should you consult a doctor?

If the tick has remained attached for over 24 hours
If you don’t manage to remove it correctly
If there is a ring-shaped redness around the bite
In the event of unexplained symptoms over the following few weeks

Ticks and children: be particularly vigilant

Children often play in high-risk areas. Remember to inspect every part of their body after you’ve been out. A tick can go unnoticed for several hours.