Lone Star Tick Bite causes Red Meat Allergy
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 2:29 am
What would be proper homeopathic treatment?
Susan
The lone star tick, which is commonly found in wooded areas from Texas to Maine and all across the Southeast, is causing people who had been gorging hamburgers and steaks their whole life to develop an allergy to red meat. While the number of cases has increased due to the spread of the ticks from Texas all along the Eastern Coast, many are still unaware of this growing problem.
Erin McGintee, an allergist who has seen 200 cases of people who suddenly developed a meat allergy on Long Island, N.Y., said that it could be bizarre for some people to think that they are allergic to red meat when they had been eating it their entire life.
Robert Valet, an allergist from the Vanderbilt University, said that the tick bite could induce severe allergic reactions that could require hospitalization to treat. Valet said that within three to six hours after consuming red meat, a person who has the allergy can get hives, experience swelling and have difficulty breathing. Some could even develop severe allergic reaction that could lead to the closing of their airways.
Experts believe that the problem is caused by a sugar called alpha-gal, which is passed by the lone star tick when it bites its victim. Once the alpha-gal enters the blood stream, the body's immune system flags this as an invader and begins producing antibodies against it. Unfortunately, the sugar also happens to be present in all red meats, including venison, pork and beef, so consuming red meat eventually prompts the immune system to respond, resulting in allergic reactions.
It isn't yet clear if this tick bite-induced meat allergy is permanent or only temporary as some people show signs of recovery while others do not. Experts, however, said it will be best for the sufferers to avoid getting more tick bites as this could induce the rise of more antibodies. This means avoiding brush areas, and wearing clothing that can keep the ticks from biting the skin.
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/13004 ... d-meat.htm
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Susan
The lone star tick, which is commonly found in wooded areas from Texas to Maine and all across the Southeast, is causing people who had been gorging hamburgers and steaks their whole life to develop an allergy to red meat. While the number of cases has increased due to the spread of the ticks from Texas all along the Eastern Coast, many are still unaware of this growing problem.
Erin McGintee, an allergist who has seen 200 cases of people who suddenly developed a meat allergy on Long Island, N.Y., said that it could be bizarre for some people to think that they are allergic to red meat when they had been eating it their entire life.
Robert Valet, an allergist from the Vanderbilt University, said that the tick bite could induce severe allergic reactions that could require hospitalization to treat. Valet said that within three to six hours after consuming red meat, a person who has the allergy can get hives, experience swelling and have difficulty breathing. Some could even develop severe allergic reaction that could lead to the closing of their airways.
Experts believe that the problem is caused by a sugar called alpha-gal, which is passed by the lone star tick when it bites its victim. Once the alpha-gal enters the blood stream, the body's immune system flags this as an invader and begins producing antibodies against it. Unfortunately, the sugar also happens to be present in all red meats, including venison, pork and beef, so consuming red meat eventually prompts the immune system to respond, resulting in allergic reactions.
It isn't yet clear if this tick bite-induced meat allergy is permanent or only temporary as some people show signs of recovery while others do not. Experts, however, said it will be best for the sufferers to avoid getting more tick bites as this could induce the rise of more antibodies. This means avoiding brush areas, and wearing clothing that can keep the ticks from biting the skin.
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/13004 ... d-meat.htm
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