Mary Allen
Ticks are small animals. They form an order in the animal kingdom that belongs to the class Arachnids. Ticks feed on the blood of other animals and humans. Those animals that live on other animals without eating them are called parasites. Ticks, found in some parts of our country, can transmit diseases.
A tick has eight legs and an oval body. With her first pair of legs, she holds on to the animals whose blood she wants to suckle. She also has a suction organ on her head. As she sucks, her body fills with blood and she grows larger and larger.
Female ticks lay eggs. Larvae and then nymphs develop from this, which is an intermediate stage to adult animals. To get from one level to the next, the ticks need a meal of blood each time.
What diseases do ticks transmit?
When sucking, the tick also releases something like spit into the wound. This can transmit diseases. Two serious diseases that can be transmitted by ticks are called TBE, which is a type of meningitis, and Lyme disease.
Ticks in southern Germany in particular can transmit TBE. To protect yourself from infection, you can be vaccinated against TBE. If you live in an area where ticks can carry these diseases, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor about getting vaccinated.
You cannot be vaccinated against Lyme disease. However, if you had a tick and it was removed, you should monitor the bite site for a few days. If a red spot forms around it, you should go to the doctor immediately, because then you could have contracted Lyme disease.