The tick is the bugbear of the year. Bikers are among the biggest risk group. We show you how to avoid bites without consequences.
They are as tiny as poppy seed crumbs and are spreading more terror this year than bird flu - ticks, the bloodsuckers from the meadow. Bikers in particular should be worried. After all, they are on the ticks' dinner plate. How dangerous are the beasts really? Ticks are parasites. They lurk in meadows and bushes, ready to latch onto a host animal with a bite at the first opportunity. Biker calves are particularly at risk, both shaved and furry. Once picked up, ticks look for a cosy place to feed - often the back of the knee, armpits or the genital area. The longer the stowaway sits in the skin, the higher the risk of infection. Therefore, remove immediately. Tweezers are usually sufficient. Caution! Do not squeeze the tick under any circumstances, as the dangerous borelliosis bacteria can be found in the gut. Borelliosis, the most common tick-borne disease, first appears as a ring-shaped reddening of the skin at the site of the bite and can cause fever, exhaustion and headaches. If you don't see a doctor now, you risk heart problems and joint inflammation. Football star Bastian Schweinsteiger had to hobble on crutches for weeks after contracting borelliosis. There is no vaccination against borelliosis, but it can be treated with antibiotics. TBE, an inflammation of the brain or meninges, is more insidious. TBE begins with fever as well as headaches and aching limbs; in the later stages it can even lead to paralysis. TBE cannot be treated, which is why vaccination is increasingly recommended. Mountain bikers should be vaccinated out of season. On the one hand, it is not always well tolerated and can lead to fatigue. Secondly, full protection against TBE only builds up after three injections. The costs are covered by health insurance companies.
