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Lyme disease, passed on by ticks, particularly affects hikers and other nature lovers as well as accompanying pets. To treat this disease, which is most often benign, we have an effective antibiotic treatment, severe types are rare. This is why it is necessary to prevent bites and to know the symptoms so that the disease does not gain ground and become chronic. Floriane, a mountain guide and Quechua employee, provides tips helping you to protect yourself. The following tips not only apply to humans, but also dogs, cats and horses.
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The disease was firstly discovered in the USA in the small town of Old Lyme, hence its name. The disease is prevalent in 80 countries. In France, the disease is often passed on by blood-sucking ticks: ixodes ricinus, which live in wooded and damp areas.
It is an infection caused by bacteria: borrelia. It can be passed on at any stage of the tick's life, from the larva stage to the female adult stage least forgetting the nymph stage. Now for some good news, the disease is not contagious and does not have any after-effects if treated relatively early.
Untreated Lyme disease can cause skin, bone, neurological and more rarely, cardiac problems a few weeks or months subsequent to the bite. Serious cases are very rare.
Ticks are present in wooded and damp areas. They appreciate long grass which serves as a trampoline from which to jump on to your skin or your dog. Contamination occurs primarily between April and November. Ticks can be found all across France.
In France, the percentage of infected ticks generally varies between 5 and 20 compared to 100% in certain American regions. The figures on this disease are rare and should be taken with a grain of salt. You must consider the limits of studies and the number of cases recorded which represents a small sample to precisely estimate the number of actual cases. The number of cases has increased slightly in recent years, however it reduced in 2014. Head to the website of the Institut de Veille Sanitaire de Santé Publique France (French National Public Health agency) to find out more.
Some regions are known as hotspots for ticks, Alsace, Lorraine, Limousin, Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. As the tick is a known parasite for animals and information on Lyme disease is more and more widespread, you can find some distribution maps of tick populations and cases of bites. Be aware, a concentration of infected ticks may vary within a department or even within the same forest!
Although prevention remains the best way of protecting yourself from ticks, by following Floraine's tips further down in this article, you will know how to react if you are bitten anyway. If you discover a tick when hiking or after returning, remove it quickly and correctly! The bacteria is only passed on 24 to 48 hours after being bitten. However, beware, this risk increases if the tick is stressed. Avoid traumatising it with disinfectant sprays or any aggressive products. Avoid pressing it otherwise it may regurgitate!
Two methods can be used to correctly remove a tick
If 3 to 30 days after being bitten, you see a target shaped red shape which extends into a circle, form on your skin, see your GP.
Your GP will prescribe an antibiotic treatment if necessary. The antibiotics should not be systematic: your treating GP must assess the bite in order to provide the correct treatment. To find out more about Lyme disease, visit the INPES site which has created a leaflet which summarises Lyme disease very well
Ticks often hide in the forest, on the ground, on low branches and in the grass (sometimes, in gardens). Hikers must therefore protect their legs as a priority. Wear:
Tip: where the clothing is light, you can see ticks more clearly and therefore more easily get rid of them after hiking or when stopping for a rest.
If you stop for a break in the forest or a clearing, do not hesitate to protect yourself by placing a plaid on the ground.
Tip: it is a good idea to tuck trouser bottoms into socks, to prevent any parasites from getting in. Ok, it does not look great, but it is very effective.
For excellent protection, you can also use an insect and tick repellent applied to your skin and/or your clothing. Warning, some products are not suitable for children. Always take tick tweezers with you in your first aid kit
Once your hike has finished, check that you have not been bitten.
To do this, check your entire body, from your head to your toes, for ticks. If a tick has bitten you, as seen earlier, the safest thing is to remove it with tick tweezers, cleaning the bite area. See your GP if you have any doubts.
Once your hike has finished, check that you have not been bitten.
You are all set to hike with peace of mind!
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The 10 Commandments for Hiking SafelyTo take full advantage of your mountain treks, we suggest some safety reminders specifically applying to hiking. Don't forget to tell a friend before you leave, prepare your first aid kit, keep your vaccinations up to date, and protect your skin from little creatures. Nothing will stop you from going on the adventure!
The 10 Commandments for Hiking SafelyTo take full advantage of your mountain treks, we suggest some safety reminders specifically applying to hiking. Don't forget to tell a friend before you leave, prepare your first aid kit, keep your vaccinations up to date, and protect your skin from little creatures. Nothing will stop you from going on the adventure!
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