Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
The number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis has increased significantly over the past dozen or so years. Although many people get sick with only flu-like symptoms, one in a hundred people die. See who is extremely exposed to this disease and how to effectively protect yourself against it.
What is tick-borne encephalitis?
Tick-borne encephalitis is, next to Lyme disease, the second dangerous disease transmitted by the hated arachnids. Most infected people only develop a precursor phase a few weeks after the bite, which is somewhat reminiscent of the flu. There is muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, a feeling of general distress and a slight fever.
In less fortunate patients, the initial stage of the disease develops into a neuro-infection that can affect the brain, meninges, cerebellum, or spine. Neuroinfection can result in paresis or loss of sensation, and one in a hundred people dies as a result of contracting TBE. That is why preventing this disease is so important.
Where are ticks most dangerous?
Since the mid-90s, an increase in the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis has been observed. The disease is most widespread in the following voivodships: Podlaskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Mazowieckie, with the largest number of infected ticks in the first of these, and in some years up to half of the recorded cases of TBE were recorded in this area. There is also a lot of cases in the south of the country, and the fewest cases are registered in north-west Poland.
In the past, there were also TBE outbreaks, the source of which was infected cow’s milk, but thanks to the improvement of hygiene standards in farms, it was possible to eliminate infections in this way.
The two periods when ticks are most active are reflected in the disease peaks that occur in June and July, and September and October. However, it should be remembered that the incubation period of the virus lasts several weeks, so the highest number of bites occurs in May and June as well as August and September.
Who is particularly at risk of TBE?
For obvious reasons, people living in areas where the virus is widespread are most at risk of contracting TBE. Young children are already at risk, because they often play outside or go for walks with their guardians.
Children are also at risk for another reason. The immune system does not reach its full efficiency until the age of 12, so younger children naturally have a slightly reduced immunity. Also, the elderly, whose immune system is not working as efficiently anymore, and people with a history of infections, should be especially careful with ticks.
People working in certain occupations are also more likely to be exposed to the TBE virus. We are talking about foresters, but also about employees who cut the forest or, for example, patrol forest areas.
Finally, all people who actively spend time in nature are at risk. It is about mushroom pickers, anglers, sailors, tourists setting up camps in the meadows or just ordinary walkers.
How to protect yourself from TBE?
If you visit the forest occasionally, you should first of all prevent tick bites. Wear clothes with long legs and sleeves and remember to cover your head. Make friends with the tick repellent as well and put it in your backpack to use it again if necessary. After returning home, check the body carefully. If you find a tick, remove it immediately. Do this with a pair of tweezers and pull firmly, then disinfect the bite site. Do not wring out, use fat, or any other home remedies for ticks, because you will probably only make things worse. Remember that with tick-borne encephalitis, the Lyme ring does not appear, so the fact that you didn’t notice anything disturbing on your skin doesn’t mean the tick was not infected.
Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing TBE. It is worth paying attention to the fact that foresters who are regularly vaccinated do not get TBE. Such vaccination should be administered primarily to people who live in the endangered areas, farmers and all those who often stay in the bosom of nature.
To obtain immunity, three doses of the preparation are taken. The first should be adopted as soon as possible. The second is used after 1-3 months, and the third one after another 9-12 months. Additionally, a booster vaccination should be performed every three years. Interestingly, vaccination in pregnant women also protects the child, so future mothers living in endemic areas or simply living near the forest should also think about this form of prophylaxis.