#LONE STAR TICK DISEASE HOW TO#

Ted Lee with Peachtree Allergy & Asthma Clinic has seen more than 100 Alpha-Gal Syndrome patients over the past 37 years.

#LONE STAR TICK DISEASE HOW TO#

RELATED>Ticks the season: How to prevent, find and get rid of ticks this summerĭr. And that was just enough to trigger that reaction,” said Dickerson.Īttaway found out that even some medications, like Claritin, can trigger a response. “One of the dishes I ate was probably cooked and seasoned with maybe a ham hock or a piece of pork. Both men say they eat a lot of chicken, turkey, fish, and plant-based meat alternatives.Įven with avoiding meat, eating at restaurants or a friend’s house can be dangerous. Now, both Attaway and Dickerson can no longer eat their favorite foods, like pork ribs and hot dogs. Dickerson’s blood pressure dropped severely from the syndrome, causing him to fall and break his back. He initially passed out when using a leaf blower in his yard. “It’s the worst pain I’ve ever experienced.”ĭickerson believes he received a bite while vacationing in Florida. I thought I was having a stroke,” said Dickerson. I went and looked into the mirror and I was so contorted. Jim Dickerson also suffers from Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

RELATED>Ticks carrying rare virus found in several statesĪttaway enjoys playing disc golf and hiking, and that’s how he believes he got the bite. It is caused by a bite from a tick called “the Lone Star tick,” which is common in eastern Oklahoma. Within three days, everything started to clear up.”Īttaway tested positive for what is called “Alpha-Gal Syndrome.” It is a delayed allergic reaction to red meat. “We found the problem, and I stopped eating red meat. He suffered for nine years before finally getting answers from an allergist. “Literally, you could sometimes not even hardly think because you’re itching,” said Attaway. He says the itching lasted for hours and was unbearable.

Rob Attaway first broke out in hives 12 years ago. But ticks can also cause a rare, life-changing allergic reaction to red meat. It’s no secret that ticks are aggravating insects that pass along diseases.

Lone star tick disease