Tick bites are best known for resulting in Lyme disease, an illness produced by bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Untreated Lyme disease can result in an infection that can spread to the joints, heart, and the nervous system. On Top of the possibility of contracting this disease, new development shows that a bite from a Lone Star tick can result in producing an allergy to red meats.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that tick-borne illness has doubled within the past few years. One of the most unusual effects from a tick bite has been an immune response to alpha-gal, a sugar that is found in a variety of red meat such as beef, lamb, or pork.
Symptoms of the allergy can include, redness, itching, stomach issues, and even anaphylaxis. The allegory has been most common amongst adults across the eastern and southern parts of the country. The range of the tick has been expanding, and reach as far north as Maine and Minnesota.
As the weather heats up, and you find yourself spending more time outside, there is a new way can prevent ticks bites. Wearing clothes that have been treated with permethrin. Permethrin is insect repellent compound that it is made from the chrysanthemum flower, studies show that garments that contain this ingredient are toxic to ticks. Within minutes contact of these clothes, ticks lose their mobility and ability to bite.
Additionally, you can take these precautions to lessen your chances of getting bit this summer:
- Avoid tall grasses and densely wooded areas, if you find yourself in the woods look for trails.
- Use a bug spray that contains DEET (at least 20%).
- If you find a tick attached to you, remove it right away. When removing the tick, pull it out in one motion, avoid twisting it to decrease the chance of leaving parts of the tick behind.
- After spending time outdoors, don’t forget to check yourself, children and even pets.
- Taking a shower can help to wash off any missed ticks that may be crawling around.
- Throw your clothes in the dryer on high heat, to kill any ticks that may be on your clothing.