Tick bite

[Amandine.K]

Hi,

I just noticed a few minutes ago that I had something itchy on my arm. After checking out I noticed I had a tick on my upper arm. I guess it was in my t-shirt as I was wearing long sleeves today and didn't go in the forrest.

I have been told that the ticks in Lehtisaari are quite bad and carry the tick-borne viruses.

So I'm kind of freaking out. I managed to take the tick off. I think I got it whole, it doesn't look like there's anything and I could see the head clearly.

Should i go and have it checked still by a doctor? Ewww I can't believe it! I was talking this afternoon with my neighbour about ticks and she was advising us to get the vaccination from the Punkkibussi. Looks like I defo need to have the whole family treated. I'm so gutted I love the smell of laundry that has dried outside but if that brings ticks back home I guess laundry will stay in from now on!

[interleukin]

The ticks MAY carry TBE (a virus, you can get vaccinated against this) and borrelia (a bacteria, no vaccine available, but antibiotics if you get the infection confirmed by a doctor).
Not much to do about the TBE risk, but mark a circle around the bite (a few centimeters) to remember where it was exactly. Then you check it in two, three days. If there is a red inflammation spreading out from the bite, you may have a borrelia infection and should get it checked. Otherwise you are probably fine.
Only a subset of the ticks carry the infections, and even if an infected tick bites you, the risk of getting the infection is not so big.
So dont panic. Just keep watch on the wound and keep being careful. We have a cottage in Aland, tick heaven, and we just keep aware but don't worry too much about it. We just do the "tick check" every evening (meaning that someone inspects you for ticks).

[Amandine.K]

My daughters have a school trip in Åland in June so that's how we came to talk about it with my neighbour as we've heard Åland was tick heaven. I need to phone neuvola to know about the vaccination for my daughters. Do you know if there's any kind of repellent that you can buy from the Apteeki here?

Thanks for your post anyway. It reassured me greatly!

[interleukin]

You can get stuff from the pharmacies to keep the ticks away, I think pretty much all the mosquito repellents work on the ticks as well.

[raamv]

You can get stuff from the pharmacies to keep the ticks away, I think pretty much all the mosquito repellents work on the ticks as well.

but not guaranteed!! Vaccines are way better and a tick kit is always a must when travelling to Åland along with learning to inspect tick bites ( I guess you know by now )..

[dmd]

Lyme Disease is particularly nasty if it goes untreated.
I caught it and was exhausted upon arrival in Bergen not realizing my problem was more than jet lag. The red bulls-eye rash was a good tip off. (watch out that you stay out of the sun as the antibiotic takes you natural resistance away - I also suffered an additional red sunburn from the ordeal! )

Lyme Disease is usually carried by the very tiny deer ticks you cannot see.

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

It is actually named after a neighboring towns here in southeastern Connecticut in 1975- USA

Good Luck

[Rosamunda]

I think you should get your daughter vaccinated if she is going to Åland in the summer. One of my kids had a football tournament there a couple of years ago and we had him vaccinated against TBE. You need two jabs and you can get them done at your regular health centre ( you need a prescription to get the syringes from the pharmacy and then the nurse will inoculate your kids) Or you can go to the punkkibussi http://www.saaristolaakarit.fi/aikataulut where they have everything so you don't need a prescription. BUT remember you have to go twice and sometimes they run out (which means you get ripped off).

[Amandine.K]

Thanks for your advice. The tick i had was the deer type one so potentially the one carrying Lyme disease. According to my husband the ones in Lehtisaari are just carrying the bacteria.

Today it is red, as large as a euro coin I'd say. Not painful really, I'll defo keep an eye on it.

As for the vaccination, the school nurse told us today that it was too late for the vaccination to be effective for early June... I think we'll still get them vaccinated though. Better be safe than sorry!

[interleukin]

The TBE vaccine I got was one jab which does not give too much protection, but then the second one is a month (or six weeks) later. After two shots you have good immunity but for a short time. So if you get shot nr one done now, you have time for number two and have good protection for the summer. I would reccommend a third shot ca a year after the first dose. If you get that one, you are protected for 3 to 4 years. This is the standard schedule for most vaccines.

But any way, you should deffo take the first shot even if you may not have time for the second one in time for the tick season. One shot is better than nothing.

[Rosamunda]

Thanks for your advice. The tick i had was the deer type one so potentially the one carrying Lyme disease. According to my husband the ones in Lehtisaari are just carrying the bacteria.

The ticks that carry TBE are the same as the ones that carry Lyme disease. Both are carried by Tick Taxis (aka roe deer) which are in their zillions in the archipelago. IIRC there is a map (or a link to a map) somewhere on the Archipelago Doctors webpage which shows the TBE infected areas. There was also a map in Hesari last week I think. The TBE zone is extending eastwards but mostly in coastal areas. I don't think the Helsinki region is affected but I know our mökki near Fiskars is borderline. Lyme disease is easily treated with antibiotics as long as it doesn't linger in your body (my sister-in-law had it for months, possibly years before she was diagnosed). One of my kids was bitten as a baby (4 months, we found the tick when we changed his nappy ) and given a course of antibiotics as a precaution, but I'm not sure that is necessary if there are no symptoms. But if your red patch gets any bigger than a 1€ coin (eg as big as a 2 € coin), and even if it is not painful, I would probably show it to the nurse at the health centre.

[Amandine.K]

Oh no poor baby! At least I am the one that got bitten and not one of my kids.

I saw the map in Hesari last week I think. It showed Åland has the tick heaven area. I think we'll go to Sello tomorrow morning at the Punkkibussi!

[Rosamunda]

When I went to the punkkibussi in Iso Omena a couple of years ago, I had to queue for ages. And it is expensive!!! They are rolling in the cash, but it is the only way they can keep the health service running in the archipelago during the summer.

I think you need to take your ID. And you might want to ask them if you are GUARANTEED the second shot.... ie ask them what happens if they run out of vaccine before the second shot is due.... can you get a refund????

BTW, the punkkibussi vaccine does not protect against Lyme disease, but I guess you figured that out already!

[Amandine.K]

Oh we were told that the Punkkibussi was cheaper than going through our health care centre... So for the Punkkibussi you pay for the whole course (so for the three vaccinations?)

[Rosamunda]

No, I think you pay separately. But if you pay for the first one and then they run out.... you have (sort of) wasted your money (we couldn't even get the 2nd shots from the health clinic because supplies had run out nearly everywhere).

[biscayne]

Amadine K,

I don't like the sound of your description of your tick bite. Check it very carefully. What you are looking for is the redness radiating outwardly, so a big red or purplish red patch with a WHITE or clear patch of skin inside. If you have been bitten by an infected tick and are yourself infected, you only have a window of about 10 - 12 days to get the antibiotics and that they will be effective. As others correctly stated, Lyme Disease AKA borelia bergdorfus does not have a vaccine available. Some people who get it have debilitating effects which last for a very long time. Just be careful. In terms of tick-inspection, don't forget the head/scalp especially if you are all dark haired. Good luck.