The number of emergency room visits for tick bites has increased this season by approximately 30% compared to last year, says infectious disease specialist Adrian Marinescu, the manager of the „Matei Balș” Institute in Bucharest.
Even so, most cases do not progress to severe forms, and the risk of serious complications remains low.
"Not every bite means illness"
The doctor warns that there is a tendency to exaggerate the danger associated with ticks, especially regarding Lyme disease. "Most of the time, ticks are not infected. This does not mean that a simple bite leads to a severe illness," explains Adrian Marinescu.
At the same time, he emphasizes that the issue is no longer limited to forests or parks: ticks can be frequently encountered in gardens or other green areas around homes, being brought in by animals as well.
How to protect ourselves and what to watch out for
Protection starts with simple measures: clothing that covers as much of the body as possible and the use of repellent sprays. However, the risk cannot be completely eliminated.
Therefore, it is important that after coming from vegetated areas, we carefully check the skin, especially in hard-to-see areas, such as the scalp, especially in children.
Removing the tick and the role of the doctor
If a tick remains attached to the skin, it must be completely removed. The procedure can be done at home if skilled, but seeking medical attention is recommended, especially for the administration of antibiotic prophylaxis.
"If we have removed the tick and administered prophylaxis, the likelihood of significant complications is very low," explains the doctor.
When Lyme disease appears
Lyme disease, in its acute form, can appear about a month after the tick bite. Warning signs include the appearance of a red spot (not necessarily at the bite site) and flu-like symptoms.
In these cases, the patient should seek medical attention for treatment, not just for prevention.
"Neuroborreliosis is exaggerated"
Adrian Marinescu warns against excessive or incorrect diagnosis of complications such as neuroborreliosis. According to him, such diagnoses are sometimes made too easily based on nonspecific tests.
"There are extremely few cases of Lyme disease. Out of 100 people bitten, most do not experience anything. The discussion that neurological complications occur remotely is exaggerated and often not confirmed," says the doctor.
He recommends that patients seek specialized medical centers for an accurate diagnosis to avoid both errors and false positive results.