Currently, 17% of all infectious diseases that exist in the world are spread by vectors, that is, by mosquitoes, sandflies, triatomines, ticks, mites, snails and bedbugs. This problem causes more than 700,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“There are many exposed in the United States,” said Charles Beard, director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Ticks are best known for spreading Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi (B burgdorferi) described in the US National Library of Medicine. These arthropods are known to cause at least 16 diseases in the US.
The most alarming reason is that the season of ticks is increasing, making this a health problem that has spread throughout the year due to climate change. When faced with this situation, the best thing to do is to stay aware of how ticks work.
Despite the fact that we do not live in the north of the continent, never be afraid of the risk of contracting a tick-borne disease, since in Mexico only 30.60% of the territory is free from the ectoparasite, the door opens. Government of the State of Mexico.
For these reasons we share the 6 cheapest tick diseases transmitted by Infoba;
1. Babesiosis
The MSD manual explains that babesiosis is a species-specific infection caused by the protozoan Babesia. The infection may be asymptomatic or the cause of malaria-like diseases. Babesiosis is a parasitic infection transmitted by the bite of a deer tick. These ticks can be seen on small mammals such as white-tailed rats in the United States.
Once the drool parasite enters the human body, it makes its way to the red blood cells and over time can cause hemolytic anemia. However, this is manageable for babies.
2. Lyme disease
Lyme disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is also transmitted by deer ticks. Most symptoms have variations depending on the stage of infection. Among the most common are fever, rash, facial paralysis or arthritis.
If not treated in time, there is a risk of developing neurological problems such as facial paralysis and nerve damage in the extremities.
3. Anaplasmosis
Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are similar diseases and are transmitted by ticks that cause symptoms and fever. It can cause muscle pain, among others, according to information from the Mayo Clinic.
Like Lyme disease, people who develop anaplasmosis have non-specific symptoms such as fever and muscle aches. If left untreated, it can be fatal, as people can develop serious blood problems and organ failure.
4. Powassan virus infection
Powassan virus is extremely rare, however, when acquired, it causes mild symptoms such as headache, vomiting, fever, weakness and confusion and even seizures, according to data from Nemours KidsHealth.
As such a virus is rare, there are no special drugs that can treat or cure it, so if someone develops it, it is necessary to be diagnosed and receive treatment in the hospital.
5. Rock spotted fever
Spotted tick fever is a bacterial infection that people can get through a tick bite. Most infections, according to TeensHealth data on forests, occur in the spring and summer, when ticks are most active.
A noticeable symptom is rash in the form of red spots or red dots, in the first three days after the bite. Doctors usually treat spotted fever with antibiotics. Most people get well within a few days of treatment.
6. Alpha-gal syndrome
According to the CDC, alpha-gal syndrome is a serious and life-threatening allergic reaction. Symptoms occur some time after a person has been bitten by a solitary tick. This is an allergic reaction that a person develops, a person becomes very sensitive to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which is found in most mammals.
If a tick is discovered attached to the skin, experts recommend grabbing it close to the skin with tweezers and pulling it straight out (not twisted), then cleaning the bite with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
(With information from CDC, Nemours TeensHealth, Mayo Clinic, MSD Manual)
