Remove ticks: methods, aids and possible errors

If you roam through high grass in summer, travel in forests or stroke animals, you can easily bring an uninvited companion home: the tick. The arachnids cling to the skin unnoticed, drill their stick trunk deep and suck blood. You can transfer pathogens such as Borrelia or the TBE virus. In many cases it takes several hours for a pathogen to actually get into the human body, but the time window for safe action is limited. The motto is: the faster the tick is removed, the lower the risk of infection. At the same time, it is important to proceed prudently, because hasty or false methods can lead to parts of the animal remain in the skin or release it even more saliva by pressure.

The idea that you can simply crush a tick or kill them with oil and glue persists. But experts warn: Such methods extend contact and increase the risk that pathogens will be transferred. Gearers or nail polish are also taboo. A mechanical, controlled distance is crucial, which completely loosens the parasite out of the skin. Suitable tools make the procedure safer and easier.

The classic aid is the fine, pointed peak, like that . It allows the tick to grab and pull out the tick as close as possible to the surface of the skin. It is important to have an even, straight train without squeezing the body of the parasite. Pinchettes that are used in everyday life to pluck eyebrow are often too wide or too blunt. Special stainless steel tick tweezers, on the other hand, are so shaped that they also hold small larvae safely. Its non -slip grip surfaces make handling easier, even if your hands sweat or the situation is hectic – for example, if a child has caught the tick and hits and winds.

Compact tick cards are available for on the go. They are thin as a bank card, fit into every wallet and have a diagonally incised notch. With this, the tick can be gently flipped and pulled out. The Also offers a practical magnifying glass, with which the bite point can be examined for residues. Especially in animals with dense fur, such cards turn out to be practical because they work on the body of the parasite without pressure. At the same time, they are robust and easy to clean so that they are good for excursions, camping or walks.

The distance is often more difficult in children and pets. Here tick tongs or tick hooks come into play, which enable stable fixation through their shape. Plastic tick hooks, like are pushed flat under the parasites and removed with a light lever movement. They are particularly gentle and largely prevent the snack apparatus from tearing off. This is calming for parents because the handling is easier and the procedure is over faster.

Some manufacturers offer sets that bundle different tools in one case. So you have tweezers, hooks and maps at the same time and can choose the right instrument depending on the situation. The Combines pliers, magnifying glass and LED light, for example, and is particularly suitable for people with visual impairment or if you often search for ticks in dense animal fur.

So that ticks do not worry, you should be prepared. If you are traveling regularly in the forest and meadow or have pets, you should always have a suitable tool at hand – preferably in the medicine pharmacy, in the car or in a hiking backpack. A tick can be removed immediately without long searches, which significantly reduces the risk of infection. At the same time, it is advisable to search the body thoroughly after stays in the green, in particular warm and protected areas such as the knees, armpits or the hairline. This routine only costs a few minutes, but can be crucial to prevent possible diseases.

If the tick is removed, the puncture site with one should be treated. Alcoholic solutions or sprays reduce the risk of local inflammation. Plasters are usually not necessary as long as the skin does not bleed. It is important to keep an eye on the position in the following days. If it reduces itself, a ring forms or occurs flu -like symptoms, medical clarification is required.

There is also practical help for the safe disposal of the tick. Special tick trap boxes or small doses with closure make it possible to keep the animal if a later laboratory examination is necessary. Alternatively, you can punch the tick into a piece of paper. You shouldn’t wash the tick down in the toilet because it can survive in the water.