More on ticks: a new concern

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In: Animals
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From: Cosi Long
Sent: Tue, May 21, 2013 5:11:04 PM
Subject: More on ticks: a new concern

Thanks to all who posted tick information as the season starts. 

Here’s a new medical issue that my allergist just made me aware of:  if you’ve had repeated tick bites (and chigger bites) over the years, there’s a chance you might have developed an allergy to mammalian meats (beef, pork, lamb, goat).  The allergy can be (though it isn’t always) very severe and sometimes causes “delayed anaphylactic shock” (closing down of the throat so breathing becomes impossible).  The short name of the test is Alpha Gal IgE (galactose-alpha 1,3-galactose IgE).  It’s a simple scratch test on the skin.  I just had it and it was positive.

Cosi Long