Warmth brings a dangerous disease to Hungary: look out for these symptoms

According to the National Institute of Public Health (NNK), the number of reported Lyme disease cases has significantly spiked in the past year in Hungary. Infections are commonly detected during June and July, but the number of cases start to rise markedly already in late spring.

The warmer months between May to August bring an increased risk of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (viral brain inflammation). Therefore, in 2023, vacationers, hikers, and those living in wooded areas should exercise increased caution, advises Pénzcentrum.

Prevention

Wearing closed-toe shoes with long socks and light-coloured clothing, as well as using tick-repellent sprays can help avoid contact with ticks. In case of a tick bite, one should monitor for possible symptoms and seek medical attention if the illness develops.

The common tick is widespread in our country. They most commonly populate forests (such as rich understory oak-hornbeam forests) and other areas with dense shrubs and undergrowth. However, they can also appear in urban environments, especially in smaller or larger areas covered with continuous vegetation. They can enter gardens through domestic animals, primarily dogs and cats, as well as various birds and wild small mammals.

In case of tick bite

If you discover a tick on your skin, it is important to remove them as soon as possible. Do not smear anything on the tick’s abdomen. Also avoid squeezing or crushing it, as this may cause the tick to “spit” the pathogens into our body. The best method is to use tick removal tweezers to grasp the tick directly on the skin surface. If tweezers are not available, you can try using your thumb and index finger, especially if you have longer nails.

It is not a problem if the tick’s head remains in the skin. Like any foreign object, the body will expel it with time. If it does not come out within a few days, you should remove it to prevent inflammation. Afterward, apply an iodine solution (Betadine) to the tick bite. Usually, the small red bump disappears without a trace within 7-10 days.

If a few weeks later a pale red rash appears around the tick bite, it may indicate an infection. In approximately 20-30 percent of cases, there are no symptoms of infection initially, and they may only manifest later as joint, neurological or cardiac symptoms. It is advisable to consult a doctor in any such cases, as in the early stages it can be effectively treated with medication.

Vector-borne disease

In Hungary, the two most threatening human diseases transmitted by ticks are viral meningitis/encephalitis and Lyme disease. Untreated or inadequately treated patients may experience complications affecting the nervous system, musculoskeletal system or the heart (such as numbness, limb pain, peripheral nerve inflammation or heart problems) following a tick bite.

Fear not, however. With the appropriate dosage and duration of antibiotic treatment, these diseases can generally be effectively treated. Unfortunately, preventive vaccination doesn’t exist yet.

Source: Pénzcentrum