Signs
A bite from a tick puts you at risk for Lyme disease. This is because the tick may be carrying a bacteria that can cause the disease. A tick is a very small insect, about one to three millimeters, and therefore easy to overlook. Ticks are found in shrubs, trees and grasses. And especially in the spring and summer period.
When a tick has just bitten someone, it looks like there is a black dot on the skin. Eventually, after a few days, ticks can become as big as a pea (by sucking up blood).
What do you do in the event of a tick bite?
The following are good things to do in the event of a tick bite:
- Remove the tick as soon as possible;
- If it hasn't bitten itself yet, you can also remove the tick with tape or sticky plaster;
- If it did bite, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible but do not squeeze the tick's body;
- When using tweezers, pull the tick away from the skin in a gentle straight motion. Preferably use tweezers with a fine tip;
- When using a tick forceps or tick card, follow the instructions for use. These will tell you whether to pull the tick straight or twisting it off the skin;
- Make sure no parts of the tick are left in the skin: this can cause inflammation;
- Note the location on the body and the date the tick bit.
- Only after the tick is gone, disinfect the area with disinfectant.
Source: Red Cross
If you are on the beach, you can also report to a rescue station to have the tick removed.
CAUTION! Do not use alcohol, disinfectant or other products to "numb" the tick, and certainly do not try to remove the tick with a lit cigarette or match.
When do you contact a family physician?
If you are unsuccessful in removing the tick, contact your family doctor. Also contact your family doctor if in the first few months after the tick bite:
- A red spot appears on the skin that grows larger and larger;
- A flu-like feeling develops with fever and muscle pain;
- you start to see double or get a crooked face;
- you experience pain, loss of strength or tingling in your limbs;
- joint problems arise.
Prevention is of course better than cure. If ticks are active, make sure you go out into nature well prepared.
Bastard satin caterpillar
On our South Holland coast we have been familiar for years with the nuisance that the bastard satin caterpillars give people. These caterpillars of the bastard satin butterfly overwinter in the branches of, for example, sea buckthorns and in summer they migrate en masse to the beach.
When you come into contact with the fire hairs of the bastard satin caterpillar, you may experience symptoms such as skin irritation, itching, red rashes, and eye and respiratory irritation.
What you can do is not rub and strip the skin with tape immediately after exposure, then rinse well with lukewarm water. Include your eyes as well. Your clothes that you have on are best washed immediately at 60 degrees.
