Tag: Tick Bites

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How Do Tick-Borne Infections Affect The Brain?

Angelica Bottaro

Whenever spring is just around the corner, you can be sure tick season is almost ready to begin, too. While many people know that ticks harbor diseases, not everyone may be aware of the severity of these infections until they contract one. The initial symptoms associated with tick-borne diseases are typically mild. Because of this, many people go untested after contracting a disease. But when treatment is not sought quickly, tick-borne diseases can spread through the entire body and cause severe health issues. Tick-borne conditions can be just as harmful to the brain as any other organ in the body – but how do tick-borne diseases affect the brain, exactly? Let’s find out.

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Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Everything You Need To Know About This Tick-Related Meat Allergy

Angelica Bottaro

Alpha-gal, more formally known as galactose-a-1 and 3-galactose, is a type of sugar molecule. It is found in most mammals but not fish, reptiles, birds, or people. Humans may consume alpha-gal if they are meat eaters, as the molecule is found in pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, and venison. It is also found in animal products such as milk products and gelatin.

However, the molecule seldom makes it into the human bloodstream through food consumption. Because of this, the molecule typically causes no harm to those that consume it. If a person is bitten by a tick, though, they can develop an allergy to alpha-gal, leading to something called alpha-gal syndrome. While the allergy isn’t always severe, it can lead to serious allergic reactions in some. Read on to learn all you need to know about this potential tick-related meat allergy.

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pregnant person
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Tick-Borne Infections In Pregnancy: Overview & Outcomes

talktick

Getting bitten by a tick isn’t always a cause for concern, because not all ticks contain infectious bacteria. However, many do, so if you are bitten, you may be at risk of contracting Lyme disease. Lyme can be debilitating because of the way the bacteria infiltrates the body, hiding out in tissues and causing damage over the long term.

Understandably, when a person is pregnant, they may wonder if getting a tick-borne infection can harm their unborn child. Research has investigated the impact that Lyme disease can have on both the child as well as the person carrying the baby. While the serious repercussions of Lyme disease spreading to the unborn child are rare, there are some things those expecting should be aware of when it comes to tick-borne infections in pregnancy. 

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person hiking through woods in winter
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Do Winter Ticks Carry Lyme Disease?

Angelica Bottaro

When people think of tick season, they tend to picture warm days spent hiking in the woods. While spring and summer are typically referred to as “tick season,” the truth is that ticks can be active all year round. This is because there are many different types of ticks that thrive in different conditions.

For example: the black-legged tick is mainly thought to be active during the warmer seasons, but can survive in temperatures that are just above freezing. Other types of ticks – mainly the Gulf Cost tick and the Lone Star tick – are also both fairly active in the winter months.

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person hiking in fall
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Don’t Let Your Guard Down: Prevalence Of Ticks In Fall

Angelica Bottaro

Now that summer is over, many people may be breathing a sigh of relief that tick season is over. But unfortunately, the end of summer does not mean the end of the tick threat – ticks can still live throughout the fall. It’s important not to let your guard down as the season changes, as this may open you up to an increased risk of being bitten by a tick infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

The fall often leads to a drop in temperature, which may give people a false sense of security since ticks thrive in warmer temperatures. However, in many places, fall temperatures aren’t as low as they need to be for tick populations to die down and become a lesser threat to people living or spending time in wooded areas. So how does fall weather affect tick populations, exactly? And why should you continue to practice safety measures even in the cooler weather? Read on for all you need to know about the prevalence of ticks in fall.

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