July 2008
Health Information
Ticks may seem like a tiny threat, but they are carriers of pathogenic agents that can bring down animals millions of times their size. Especially in Bavaria, ticks often transmit Lyme disease to humans—an illness that can cause severe health problems, even years after the infection. To keep an eye out for the dangerous creatures, don’t worry about keeping your head up. Despite common belief, ticks don’t drop from trees, but lie in wait in grass and brushwood. They are attracted to perspiration and high body temperatures, so check all over the body—including hair and private parts—for ticks after an outing in the wild or even one of Munich’s parks. An early discovery could even prevent a bite, as these parasites usually crawl over the skin for a few hours before deciding on an ideal spot for blood-sucking. In case you find one with its fangs already sunk in your flesh, head to a dermatologist to get the bugger removed. But that’s not the end of it: Even if no red circle appears around the site after a few weeks, it is best to undergo a blood test to rule out the possibility of an infection. <<<
