Travel & Ticks... Know Before You Go!
- Helen
- Apr 16, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 23, 2019
About to go travelling?
Got your tickets, passport, money, camera and guidebook ready?
......Have you also checked about any health risks at your destination?
Travelling is incredible: a chance to really appreciate other parts of the world, have adventures and expand your mind and heart!
However, while travelling we can also meet more risks to our health than we might experience at home.
In earlier posts I have covered some of these - the sun, traveller's diarrhoea (ick!) and mosquitoes and malaria (click the links to read those posts too!).
Another of the risks to consider of the insect variety is ticks...
Ticks can be found in various parts of the world and some can spread nasty disease if we are not protected or not taking enough precautionary measures.
So, if you are considering travelling then ensure you know about ticks before you go:
- how to prevent tick bites, how to protect against diseases ticks can spread and what to do if you do find a little tick happily attached to your person!
Much of this information also applies if you live in a part of the world where ticks are an issue!
(**Disclaimer before I continue - I did work as a nurse for many years, in which travel health was a large part of my role so feel reasonably informed to write this post...
However, always take the advice of your own health care provider over the information I am offering here!)....
TICKS
Ticks are small insects that feed on the blood of (usually wild) animals but will bite humans and domestic pets too if given the opportunity...
Ticks cannot fly or jump but they are dependent on finding a 'host' (i.e. animal or human) to survive and so wait in positions and areas where they are likely to have contact with a suitable host and be able to attach themselves to them. This usually happens when the host brushes against them.
Ticks are generally found in wooded or grassy areas, where they 'quest' for a host and are prevalent in many different parts of the world.
Common Tick Borne Diseases:
It is important to note here that not all ticks will spread disease, even in 'risk areas'.
Largely, a tick bite will merely be annoying (as you need to remove it) and might just cause some local irritation to the skin in the area that the tick was attached.
However, some ticks do spread disease and it is important to know a bit about these so you can protect against them as far as possible and in case you do become unwell following a tick bite.
A few of the more common diseases ticks can spread:
- Lyme Disease
A bacterial infection spread by ticks and found in parts of North America and Asia as well as across Europe.
Symptoms of lyme disease include fever, headache, malaise and a characteristic 'bullseye' rash.
If caught in time then lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
- Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE)
A viral infection spread by ticks.
TBE is commonly found in parts of central, northern and eastern Europe, as well as Siberia and Asia.
TBE will start with mild flu like illness but in some cases can spread to infect the brain. Occasionally TBE can be fatal or leave permanent damage.
Vaccinations are available to protect against TBE and might be appropriate for you, depending on where you are travelling to and your intended activities when there (speak to a travel health professional before you go!).
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
RMSF is a bacterial infection spread by ticks in large parts of the United States, with some cases also reported in Canada.
Signs and symptoms of RMSF include fever, malaise, headache, nausea and vomiting. Typically a rash develops 2-4 days after the first symptoms.
In some cases, people who have had RMSF are left with permanent damage, including amputation of fingers, toes or even a limb, loss of hearing or paralysis.
Early treatment is key and involves antibiotics.
- Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)
CCHF is a viral illness spread by ticks and mainly found in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia.
Symptoms of CCHF typically start one to three days after the tick bite and include fevers, dizziness, neck pain, photophobia (light sensitivity) and vomiting with mood swings, confusion and agitation not being uncommon.
Treatment is largely supportive although anti viral medications might be tried.
Anywhere between 10-40% of people who develop CCHF die from it.
There is currently no vaccination to protect against this nasty disease.
- Tick Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF)
TBRF is a bacterial infection that causes recurring episodes of flu like illness with fever, headache, nausea and muscle pains.
TBRF carrying 'soft ticks' are found in the tropics and sub-tropics, as well as parts of Europe and North America.
TBRF can be treated with antibiotics, but again there is no current vaccination to protect against it.
There are of course many other diseases that a tick bite can give you... too many to list here but these are some of the more common to be aware of.
Always check with a travel health expert before you travel to know if any specific diseases or issues exist at your particular destination.
Protection From Tick Bites
Some tick borne disease can be protected against through vaccination (such as Tick Borne Encephalitis), so always check at your local travel health clinic before travelling to see if you need protection, based on current advice for your destination.
If you are travelling in areas where ticks are a factor (or even if you live in a part of the world ticks are found) then follow these general measures to protect against bites:
Firstly, the main advice is always to avoid spending time in areas (such as fields and forests known to be infested with ticks)..
However, if you do:
- Use insect repellent on your skin when in risk areas - products that contain DEET are generally recommended as the best and the safest.
- Treat your clothing with an insecticide treatment, such as permethrin.
- Avoid walking through long grasses or brushing against wooded areas:
keep to cleared paths as much as possible if you are out walking.
- Once you come back inside, check your clothing, equipment and pets for ticks... they can wait in clothes or equipment, ready to attach if the opportunity presents!
- Fully check your body for ticks, removing any found (see below on how to remove ticks).
How To Remove A Tick
To remove a tick use a pair of tweezers, grasp it as close to the skin (and it's head) as possible and pull firmly up and out.
Do not twist the tick as this may result in the head remaining in the skin.
You can also purchase 'tick removers' online or in many pharmacies so if you prefer to use these then perhaps take a couple with you in your luggage when you travel.
Clean the bite area with soap and water or alcohol gel if available.
If you are bitten by a tick when travelling (or even at home) and develop fevers, rashes or illness in the following days or weeks then do ensure you seek medical advice and make them aware that you have had a tick bite.
So..... there is all you need to know before you go about ticks and their diseases!
This is always a topic that causes that skin-crawling, itchy and icky sensation to think about.... but it is also important to know and act on!
Prevention is always key in the first instance... "it will never happen to me" is a an attitude so many come to regret!
Links to Amazon UK Site for: Insect Repellent & Tick Removers.
Links To Amazon USA Site for: Insect Repellent & Tick Removers...
(click the appropriate link for the product you are interested in and where you are based!).
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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