Tick bites: What to do and how to protect yourself

Where is the risk of ticks greatest?

Ticks are found throughout Switzerland and are particularly active in spring and autumn. They live on the ground and are mainly found in tall grass, bushes, undergrowth and on the edges of forests and paths below 2,000 metres above sea level. Here they wait for people and animals passing by to attack them. It is a myth that they fall from trees in forests.

If a tick finds a suitable place to bite, it attaches itself firmly to the skin and sucks blood for several days. Ticks bite particularly often in the hollow of the knees, groin and armpits and, for children, on the scalp and in the hair.

What diseases do ticks transmit?

A tick sucks blood for several days. This can transmit the pathogens that cause Lyme disease or meningitis (TBE; tick-borne encephalitis).

A Lyme disease infection is triggered by bacteria. It often goes unnoticed, but can also lead to symptoms such as reddening of the skin or flu-like symptoms. In severe cases, it can lead to numbness, pain and paralysis in the arms, legs and head. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) estimates that, depending on the region, 5 to 50% of ticks are infected with the Lyme disease pathogen.

Since 2019, almost all of Switzerland has been considered a risk area for TBE (exceptions: canton of Geneva and canton of Ticino). Meningitis is caused by a virus. In the event of transmission, fever and headaches occur, but paralysis and loss of consciousness are also possible. FSM can cause permanent damage or even lead to death. It can be prevented with a vaccination.

What to do if a tick bites: how to remove the tick correctly

1. Make sure you have fine tweezers or tick tweezers to hand. If necessary, you can also grab the tick with your fingernails. You can also protect yourself and others from a potential infection by wearing gloves.
    
2. Disinfect your hands and the tweezers.
    
3. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it out vertically. Be careful not to twist or crush the tick. Proceed slowly and avoid jerky movements.
    
4. Thoroughly disinfect and clean the bite site, the surrounding skin and your hands.
    
5. Observe the wound and contact your doctor immediately if there is any redness, swelling or other unusual symptoms.