2024-04-24 08:33:26
Altamedica family doctor Živilė Visockienė says that she still hears from patients that only people living in the countryside or spending time in nature need to beware of ticks, but the doctor assures that this is a myth. Ticks can be found even in the lawns of apartment buildings, so protection is necessary for everyone, regardless of where they live or what their hobbies are. Although the most reliable and effective way to protect yourself from tick-borne encephalitis is vaccination, Altamedica’s medical psychologist Milita Judzinskė notices that the fear of vaccination is extremely common, especially among young patients. So, how to overcome this fear and what is useful to know about diseases spread by ticks, the specialists say.
Only 30 percent recover completely, and 1-4 percent ends in death
After a tick bite, it is important to mark the date on the calendar and monitor your health for a month. During this period, if clinical symptoms such as fever, general weakness, bone, muscle and joint pain appear, you should contact your family doctor as soon as possible. Tick-borne encephalitis is an insidious two-wave disease. At the beginning of the disease, flu-like symptoms may appear. Often, when you feel better, a second wave strikes, during which you may experience loss of consciousness, vomiting, fever, and meningitis.
According to the data of the Official Statistics Portal of the Republic of Lithuania, only one third of those who get sick recover completely, another third suffer from residual symptoms for several years, the remaining third have memory, consciousness, speech, balance and concentration disorders or even paralysis for life, and 1-4 percent cases end in death.
Sucked by a tick: what to do?
Ingestion of a tick is usually not felt, because the saliva of these parasites has analgesic properties. So even 50 percent tick-borne encephalitis patients have not found ticks on their skin. However, if you notice an infected tick, it must be removed immediately. Although tick-borne encephalitis is contagious immediately after being bitten by a tick, it is necessary to remove it as soon as possible in order to avoid Lyme disease, which is transmitted after being bitten by a tick for more than a day.
To remove a tick, grasp it with tweezers (not with your hands) as close to the head as possible and slowly pull firmly. It is important not to squeeze the body of the tick, so that the contents of its stomach do not spill into the suction site. If the head of the tick remains when you pull it, you should not worry, because it leaves the skin on its own within a few days. After removing the tick, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the bite site, cover the tick with a disinfectant and, after placing it in a sealed bag, throw it away.
The family doctor reminds that when pulling the tick, you cannot turn it clockwise or apply oil, and after pulling it out, crush it with your fingers. The above-mentioned popular methods do not help, but even harm, because a tick that starts to suffocate from grease will release twice as many infectious agents, its surface will become slippery, so it will be even more difficult to remove it.
Are tick repellents really effective?
Repellents and appropriate clothing – light, closed, long clothes – can help prevent ticks from being bitten. When going to the forest, you should dress in such a way that there are as few exposed parts of the body as possible – tuck the upper part of the clothes into the pants and the pants into the socks, and also cover the head. After returning home, you should undress, take a good look at yourself and your pets – make sure there are no ticks crawling or already sucked in on the body. The family doctor also reminds that tick-borne encephalitis can be contracted not only by ingesting a tick, but also by consuming thermally untreated dairy products. Although the aforementioned protective measures can be useful, the most effective preventive measure is still vaccinations, says the doctor.
The most reliable protection is applied for 40 years, which is formed in a month
Although 100 percent There are no effective vaccines, but the effectiveness of vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis is as high as 99 percent. Only a very small part of vaccinated people get sick – just 1%, so it is a time-tested, completely safe and extremely effective vaccine. The best example of the effectiveness of the vaccine was recorded in Austria. In the 1980s, the rate of tick-borne encephalitis in this country reached 8.75 cases per 100,000. population (while in Lithuania in 2021, 13.3 cases per 100 thousand). Then the general population vaccination was started in the country. Now in Austria, 90% have been vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. population, and the number of illnesses decreased more than 12 times, so only isolated cases of the disease are registered.
Fear of needles is one of the main reasons for not getting vaccinated: how to overcome it in childhood?
Studies show that about 40 percent of children worldwide under the age of 12 and 20 percent teenagers have a strong physical or emotional reaction to needles. Therefore, some try to avoid even necessary vaccines or medical treatment. Often this fear does not disappear even in adulthood. True, the medical psychologist says that it is possible to predict the child’s possible reactions and overcome the fear of needles in childhood by taking a few simple steps.
How to calm a child before vaccination?
- Keep calm. Parents, before taking their child for vaccination, should remain calm themselves, because even a baby who is not talking yet feels fear, especially transmitted by parents.
- Communicate. Before visiting the doctor, it is important to communicate with the child. A parent’s voice will help the child feel safe. Reading books, talking are good ways to pass the time while waiting for the visit.
- Explain why vaccinations are needed. A visual explanation, using booklets or examples, will help the child understand the benefits of vaccinations.
- Don’t lie to children. The main mistake parents make is lying to their child that vaccination will not hurt. After experiencing the needle stick, the child will be even more afraid of vaccinations later, because they will know that the parents cannot be trusted. It’s much better to tell your child the truth – “Yes, you’re going to hurt a little, but it won’t last long, and I’ll be there to help you.”
- Give your child a sense of control during vaccinations. Parents can encourage their child to count to 3 before the health professional administers the vaccine. This helps strengthen the child’s sense of control and in turn reduces anxiety.
- Help your child focus on activities he likes. Children are more likely to stay calm when they are engaged in activities they enjoy. Parents can help divert the child’s attention from the needle to a desired activity, such as a video, a story being told, or music.
Relaxation techniques that can help you overcome your fear of needles
- Learn breathing techniques. Try holding your breath for a count of three and then exhale. You can also hold your palm in front of your face, with the other finger of your hand starting to go up from the thumb to inhale and then exhale. The exercise should be performed with all five fingers.
- Guide the child’s mind. In the premises of the treatment facility, you can search and name 5 things you can see, 5 things you can smell, 5 things you can touch. This technique will help the child not only to focus, but also to calm down.
- Encourage the children. Parents can help overcome negative and frightening thoughts of children by saying the following phrases together: “I can do it”; “I’m safe.”
No matter how strong the fear, being able to feel safe about your health and the health of your loved ones can help overcome anxiety. After being vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis with three doses of the vaccine, immunity is formed for three years, after which additional doses of the vaccine are necessary. You can get vaccinated at any medical facility, special pharmacies and Altamedica family clinics, where until June 1 both enrolled and unenrolled patients can be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis cheaper.
2024-04-24 08:33:26