Lannemezan Hospital is the center of competence for Lyme disease. But what should you know about these diseases which are still very little known and above all how to protect yourself from them? Answers with Pierre Hecker, author of “La tactique de la tique”.
First, some figures: in 2018, 68,000 new cases were identified in France (more than twice as many as in 2015). In other words, one in 1,000 people has been infected. No region has been spared, Midi-Pyrénées being in the national average with almost one in 1,000 people infected in 2018, far behind Limousin where almost one in 200 is affected, according to official data from the Sentinelles network. However, as recalled by the French Federation against Vector Tick Diseases (FFMVT), these data relate only to Lyme disease, to the exclusion of other diseases transmitted by ticks. In addition, the criteria used are very restrictive since a case is only retained if there is a migrating erythema (red spot) or a positive serology. However, some affected people may not meet either of these two criteria. INRA offers a complementary approach, with the application CiTique, which makes it possible to report a tick bite, the place and the time, or even to send the parasitic mite. Two factors could explain the increase in the number of recorded cases: the first would be a greater awareness of general practitioners of these pathologies, the second climate change with generally milder winters and therefore an extension of the tick activity period . Because ticks don’t like excessive heat, cold, or dryness. They are therefore mainly found in shaded and humid areas, in environments where their hosts abound, deer or small rodents but also birds, snakes, lizards.
Every second bite occurs in the forest
Pierre Hecker completes these figures: almost one in two bites (48%) takes place in forested areas, but 28% in parks and gardens, more than once in two when hiking (52%). No environment is spared, nor is there any age group, child, adult and senior who can be affected. 30% of ticks can be infected depending on the sector and 5% of bites can contaminate. So what should you do to protect yourself when you go for a walk? The answer is simple: adopt the right gestures before, during and after the ride. A video recalls these good practices, these barrier gestures. You must of course think about your equipment, wear closed shoes and covering clothes, cap for children, do not hesitate to put your socks back on your pants, use repellents (sprays available in pharmacies), stay in the center of paths and trails, always have a tick puller, do not lie directly in the grass and examine yourself thoroughly after each outing. And of course, in the event of an injection, monitor the injection site for a month and consult in the event of an unusual symptom such as redness which is spreading. The French National Authority for Health has drawn up recommendations for good practice.
Pierre Hecker digest
He was made aware of the Lyme problem by his professional activity as a geographic and forest information engineer. He is a member of the Collegial Council of Relais de Lyme, patient association, and member of the Board of Directors of the FFMVT (French Federation against Vector-borne Diseases with Ticks), born in 2015 from the merger of three associations (France Lyme, Lympact and the Relais de Lyme), around doctors and researchers, in order to inform patients and raise awareness in the medical sector, citizens, decision-makers, but also the media, on infectious diseases carried by ticks. The copyright of the guide, “La tactique de la tique” is donated to the FFMVT, for research.
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