Summer is coming, and the ticks that make people talk about change color are coming out again. Usually in summer and autumn, tick bites of humans or animals are also frequent. But many people may lack understanding of the bite of this small animal, thinking that it is just a small bug, what can you do if you bite it? We advise you not to think so, because in addition to the immediate allergies or minor inflammatory reactions that may occur after a tick bite, there may be a more serious health threat – red meat allergy.
A tick bite not only sucks blood, but people can also experience "tick disease", which is "fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus". The virus usually begins about a week after the bite and symptoms include high fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and in severe cases, it may even cause damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys. Fortunately, the prognosis for most patients is good if they are treated promptly.
However, it is worth noting that patients who are cured from a tick bite may have a "time bomb" planted in their bodies - red meat allergy, and then the symptoms will be triggered when they eat meat or dairy products.
This is because during the bite, the tick injects saliva containing α galactoside oligosaccharides into the body, allowing it to puncture the skin and draw blood. According to research, α galactoside oligosaccharide is a type of sugar that exists in non-primates, and the human body cannot synthesize it on its own, that is to say, this α galactoside oligosaccharide is a foreign substance when it enters the human body, so it will be regarded as an invader by the immune system, and then produce targeted antibodies, which will trigger some allergic manifestations.
Once the tick bites, α galactoside oligosaccharides enter the human circulatory system, the immune system will produce antibodies to deal with this foreign body, and this antibody pattern will exist from then on, so if you eat red meat (such as pork, beef, mutton, rabbit, etc.) or some dairy products, or related drugs (such as gelatin, cetuximab, etc.), the α galactoside oligosaccharides will be immediately recognized by the immune system, thereby activating a series of immune responses to it, and the commonly known "red meat allergy" will also be triggered.
This condition is also known as "α-galactose syndrome (AGS)" or "tick bite allergy". What is very frustrating is that once the patient suffers from red meat allergy, the patient may not be able to eat red meat food for life, or even drink some dairy products, and the related drugs mentioned above cannot be taken.
So, how can we prevent this hidden health threat? Of course, it is to avoid being bitten by ticks. How to avoid it? First, we need to understand the habitat of ticks. It usually inhabits lawns, shrubs, ground cover and livestock pens, crevices of houses or birds' nests, and should be careful when approaching these places in summer and autumn. When playing in the wilderness or camping, it is best to wear long sleeves, long pants, long stockings and boots, and tie all openings tightly.
In addition, we can also spray insecticides such as permethrin on clothing to prevent tick bites. At the same time, avoiding sitting and resting in the jungle or bushes is also an effective way to reduce tick bites.
What should we do if we are unfortunate enough to be bitten by a tick? First, don't pull the tick directly by hand, as this may cause the tick's head to remain in the skin, increasing the risk of infection, and it's best to seek medical attention at the nearest doctor. If immediate medical attention is not convenient, the tick can be numbed with alcohol, then carefully and slowly pulled out in a vertical direction by holding the tick's head or as close to the skin as possible with pointed forceps. Then take the tick to the doctor as soon as possible.
The sooner the tick is cleared after a bite, the less likely it is to become infected with the causative microorganism or develop a red meat allergy later in life, because the shorter the time, the less galactoside oligosaccharide α s it injects, and the milder the symptoms.
If you have fever, headache, rash and other symptoms within a few days or weeks after being bitten by a tick, you must seek medical attention and inform your doctor that you have a history of tick bites.
In short, in summer and autumn, it is necessary to avoid being bitten by ticks as much as possible, and do not take it lightly if you are accidentally bitten, and the correct way to deal with it can reduce its harm.
Source: "Guangming.com" reported on May 9 "Disease Control Warning: Once bitten by a tick, you may not be able to touch red meat for life"