THE ESSENTIAL
- This summer, ticks carrying Lyme disease proliferate in several areas of France, including the Grand Est, the Center region and Limousin
- According to a recent study, more than 14% of the world’s population has already been affected by Lyme disease.
Watch out for ticks! Every summer, we have become accustomed to being wary of insects such as wasps, mosquitoes, hornets… but also ticks. In particular those which transmit Lyme disease.
This year, the areas of the Grand Est (Alsace, Lorraine), the Center region as well as those of Limousin will have to be the subject of increased vigilance, if we refer to a map recently published by the Institut National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRAE). Lyme-carrying ticks typically live in woods, grasslands, as well as vegetated urban areas such as parks.
Infection may appear after 7 to 14 days
Lyme disease is not contagious but is transmitted by the bite of a tick carrying borreliosis. The infection can appear after 7 to 14 days by a reaction of the skin at the bite of the tick. Relatively benign, it results in rashes and signs similar to those of a flu-like state (fatigue, fever, chills, headaches).
But if left untreated, this acute infection can become chronic and spread from the skin to the whole body, with the risk of complications which can affect several organs (joints, brain, heart, etc.).
What to do if bitten ?
It is recommended to remove the tick as soon as possible using tweezers or a tick puller, which can be obtained from pharmacies. Once the tick has been removed, it is important to thoroughly disinfect the wound with alcohol or an antiseptic solution.
“In case of persistent inflammatory red plaque between 3 to 30 days after the bite, you must consult a doctor because it is an erythema migrans, a symptom of Lyme disease. Antibiotic treatment is then necessary.“, specifies the site of the Health insurance.
According to a study published on June 14 in the journal BMJ Global Healthmore than 14% of the world’s population has had Lyme disease.