Lyme Disease

[Paul Frost]

It's always wise to get someone else to check you for ticks after a visit to the forest. They have a habit of getting where you can't see them.
Lynne had one on the back of her knee that wasn't discovered for 4 days, and that was only after her leg swelled up. It was so bad that walking was a problem. A visit to the doctor and course of anti-biotics was required.
It wasn't Lyme disease but had just become infected. It took about a week for the swelling to go down.

I have not had many ticks in the past but after a visit to Achlean last week I removed 7 from my legs and 1 from my hand. I was using the gadget from O'Tom discussed earlier, but found it quite difficult to use on my calf due to the long hairs. If the tick is small there is not much for the gadget to get hold of, but it did work in the end. As I slid the forks under the tick I could feel the pulling action on my skin. I got better at it with practice but finding a good friend would make it easier.

[Copepod]

Re Paul's comments - a good friend is the best solution. While working in a travel clinic, I advised several elderly couples going on hiking holidays in Eastern Europe - they seemed unexpectedly keen on the idea of checking each other for ticks!

[Rach]

i concur with blanka about only getting TBE in eastern europe, but note that it doesn't exist in britian, you difinitely CAN'T get it here.

The danger zones are anywhere east of czech republic basically.

at most travel clinics it £35 per jab. you need 2 4-12 weeks apart and then a booster...

[Gross]

Can't agree... sure I read TBE was 'available' in Sweden & as far west as France....

[ifititches]

updated TBE map
http://www.isw-tbe.info/upload/medialib ... h91552.jpg

(posted last year on a thread started Jan 05 by CHS, but things have moved on since then) The note on the map explains that it only shows the areas in which cases documented, doesn't mean it can't occur elsewhere.

Scotland and upland E&W have had their own variety for many years, known as "louping ill" which is caused by a different virus. It mostly affects sheep, but rarely does infect humans. Not sure if I've ever been told about a fell runner or orienteer getting it, but see quote below from http://www.vet.uga.edu

"Louping-ill virus is transmissible to humans. Humans can develop any one of four clinical syndromes: either an influenza-type illness, a biphasic encephalitis, a poliomyelitis-like illness or a hemorrhagic fever following infection with LI virus . Transmission can take place by tick bite, exposure to aerosolized infective material, or through skin abrasions or wounds. Nonlaboratory-acquired infections most frequently result from handling infected carcasses in abattoirs. The potential for oral transmission of LI virus to humans also exists where milk for human consumption is obtained from goats or sheep that are in the acute phase of the infection . "

Now you all know more than you probably wanted to about nasty effects of tick bites...

[Ed]

Can't agree... sure I read TBE was 'available' in Sweden & as far west as France....

definitely available in a forest near you in south and southwestern Germany...

there's even a nice colour coded map of cases in Germany available so you can work out whether you're in a high-risk area and an interactive map of Europe - watch out, the reds are coming!

[tokoloshe]

The best thing to do if you have been in tick country is to get them off while they are still walking around. Change clothes quickly and have a good look at legs from ankle to the warm bits at the top. With reasonable eyesight (don't have anymore) you can just catch and squash.
Once they have got attached the problem is to pull them out without leaving much behind.
I can remember pulling 30 or more out of each leg after a day mapping in Cawdor some years ago.
One thing I do remember is that the ones still walking have a habit of sinking their teeth as you lower yourself into a hot bath.

[weekatiepea]

As everyone seems to have different ideas on how to remove them ... I got this from the document on the bof site ...

Instructions on how to safely remove ticks:

· Using a pair of forceps or tweezers, or tick removal hooks (do not use fingers), grip the head of the attached tick, as close to the point of attachment on the skin as possible.
· Gently apply pressure and pull steadily upwards, without twisting.
· Do not burn the tick off, nor use Vaseline, alcohol, nail varnish remover or other substances to remove the tick.

Other half and I usually spend time inspecting each other after an event and removing each others ticks! I must be particularly tasty because I usually get loads!