Ticks are animals that can be found in animals, such as dogs, cats and rodents, and that can carry bacteria and viruses that are very harmful to human health.
Tick-induced diseases are serious and require specific treatment to prevent the spread of the infectious agent responsible for the disease and therefore organic insufficiency, so it is important to diagnose the disease as soon as possible so that appropriate treatment can be established on the basis of the disease.
The main diseases caused by ticks are
Spotted fever is commonly known as tick disease and is an infection transmitted by the star tick infected with Rickettsia rickettsii. Transmission of the disease to humans occurs when the tick bites the person, transferring the bacteria directly into the person’s bloodstream. For the disease to spread, the tick must remain in contact with the person for 6 to 10 hours.
It is common for tick bites to experience red spots on wrists and ankles that do not itch, in addition to the possibility of fever over 39 degrees Celsius, chills, abdominal pain, severe headaches, and constant muscle pain. Identify and treat quickly, as it can have serious health consequences if not treated properly. Recognize the signs of spotted fever.
Lyme disease affects North America, especially the United States of America and also Europe, is transmitted by the tick of the genus Ixodes, being the bacterium responsible for the disease the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes a local reaction with swelling and redness.bacteria can reach the organs and cause serious complications that can lead to death if the tick is not removed from the site and antibiotics are not used early in symptoms.
Learn more about symptoms and treatment of Lyme disease
Powassan is a type of virus that can infect ticks that, when people bite it, transmit it.The virus in people’s bloodstream can be asymptomatic or cause common symptoms, such as fever, headache, vomiting and weakness; However, this virus is known to be neuroinvasive, leading to severe signs and symptoms.
Severe disease caused by the Powassan virus can be characterized by inflammation and swelling of the brain, known as encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.In addition, the presence of this virus in the nervous system can cause loss of coordination, mental confusion, speech problems and memory loss.
The Powassan virus can be transmitted by the same tick responsible for Lyme disease, the tick of the genus Ixodes, however, unlike Lyme disease, the virus can be transmitted rapidly to humans, within minutes, while in the Lyme disease, transmission of the disease takes up to 48 hours.
The best way to avoid these diseases is to have no contact with the tick, however, if the tick sticks to the skin, it is important to have a lot of contact when removing it to reduce the risk of infection.It is recommended to use tweezers to hold the tick and remove it.
Then wash the skin with soap and water. It is not recommended to use your hands, twist or crush the tick, or use products such as alcohol or fire.
After removing the tick from the skin, the symptoms of the disease may appear within 14 days after withdrawal, it is recommended to go to the hospital if symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, red spots on the skin appear .