If you are planning a trip to the southwest and eastern United States, beware of star ticks, they can make you allergic to meat. Indeed, many American doctors report a sudden increase in allergies to meat in people who have been bitten by this insect.
This side effect was noticed a few years ago, agency reveals Associated Press, but the number of cases is higher because the ticks spread to new areas. During bites, the insect injects a type of sugar that does not exist in humans but is present in red meat, which can provoke an inordinate response of the immune system. Some victims ended up in hospital after eating meat, the agency adds.
Sometimes fatal bites
Tick bites can also transmit the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. Antibiotics can be effective when the diagnosis is made in time, but the symptoms (chronic fatigue, pain, paralysis …), can persist for years. Another disease transmitted by these small insects: tick-borne meningoencephalitis (MET), a sometimes fatal virus affecting the nervous system and against which no treatment is available at the moment.
To avoid bites, it is best to wear a hat and covering clothing and apply a repellant to the body and clothing when walking or hiking in the forest. On your return, undress and carefully check your skin, including the scalp, to make sure that a tick has not become attached. In case of a bite, remove the insect using a special hook that can be found in pharmacies, note the day you were bitten and watch the affected area. In case of fever, aches or redness of the skin, consult your doctor immediately.
