You have to do this with a tick bite or after contact with the oak processionary caterpillar

In the warmer months we enjoy the wonderful weather and the blooming nature. Outdoor recreation involves many good things, but also risks. Be aware that ticks and oak processionary caterpillars are most active during this period. Without realizing it, you can come into contact with these annoying critters. It is not necessary to have been in direct contact with caterpillars to get complaints. The stinging hairs of caterpillars can be spread by the wind and by burning and/or sucking the nests away.

Harmful

Oak processionary caterpillars are harmful to your health. The caterpillar’s stinging hairs can penetrate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. This leads to itching and/or rash and can cause severe inflammation. Breathing in stinging hairs can cause an irritated nose or throat. Your eyes may also become irritated. In rare cases, the stinging hairs can penetrate the deeper mucous membranes of the eye. If these are not removed surgically, it can lead to blindness.

It often takes a few hours before the first symptoms appear. In general, the symptoms disappear within a few days to weeks, provided no repeated contact occurs. The more often you come into contact with the oak processionary caterpillar, the more severe the health effects with each new contact.

Correct treatment

Correct treatment is important to prevent further spread of stinging hairs over the body and progression of inflammatory reactions. Avoid scratching or rubbing after coming into contact with the processionary caterpillar. Wash the skin and rinse the eyes with lukewarm water. In an initial stage, you can remove any stinging hairs from the skin with tape or adhesive plaster. In case of severe itching, anti-itch remedies, such as ointment or cream based on menthol or calendula, can provide relief. The clothing that could contain stinging hairs should be washed at at least 60 degrees. In case of severe allergic reactions, it is wise to call 1-1-2.

tick bite

More than 8 out of 10 Dutch people do not know what to do after coming into contact with the oak processionary caterpillar. But they think they know what to do with a tick bite. from research However, from the Red Cross shows that people are often ignorant about the treatment.

keep checking

Every year in the Netherlands we get more than a million tick bites. Of these, about 27,000 people develop Lyme disease. Although most people do not get sick after a tick bite, it is important to keep checking yourself. In principle, ticks can settle anywhere on your body, but they often prefer warm, moist places. They are mainly found in tall shady grass and dead leaves near trees and shrubs. Have you been in a drawing environment? First check your armpits, backs of your knees, behind your ears and around the hairline on your neck. If a tick has not yet engorged itself, it looks like a small spider. If the arachnid creature has been on your body for some time, it will look like a gray or brown pea. It is then more difficult to remove the tick from your skin.

Quick delete

Removing a tick quickly reduces the risk of infection with Lyme disease. Using fine tweezers or tick tweezers, grab the tick as close to the skin as possible without squeezing it. If you use tweezers, you have to remove the tick from the skin with a straight movement. If you use tick tweezers: the instructions for use will state whether you should pull the tick straight or twisted from the skin. To prevent inflammation, it is necessary to pull all parts of the arachnid animal. Afterwards, the place should be disinfected with disinfectant. If you are unable to remove the tick, contact your doctor.

General practitioner

If you get an increasingly large red spot on the skin in the first months after the tick bite, a flu-like feeling with fever and muscle pain or if you start seeing double, then it is wise to visit your doctor. Also do this if you suffer from joint complaints, loss of strength or tingling in your limbs.