Tick Talk: Understanding Ticks, Lyme Disease, and Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Summer may be almost over but tick season is still well underway. When most people think about spending time outdoors—hiking through the woods, having a picnic, or walking the dog—the last thing they imagine is an encounter with a tick. But these tiny arachnids can cause big problems if we’re not careful. Tick awareness is more than just knowing they exist; it’s about understanding the health risks they carry, how to avoid them, and what to do if you find one.

Meet the Tick

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that survive by feeding on the blood of animals and humans. They don’t jump or fly; instead, they patiently wait on grass or shrubs for a passing host. Once they latch on, they can feed for several days—sometimes without being noticed.

While a tick bite isn’t usually painful, some ticks can carry pathogens or trigger immune reactions, making prevention and early removal extremely important.

The Health Risks

1. Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America. It’s caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted mainly by black-legged ticks (also called deer ticks).

Symptoms:

Early: Fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and a characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash.
Later: Joint pain, nerve problems, memory issues, and heart rhythm changes if untreated.

Why It Matters: Lyme disease can often be treated with antibiotics if caught early, but delayed diagnosis can lead to long-term complications.

2. Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)

Alpha-Gal Syndrome is an allergic condition that’s unusual for two main reasons: it’s triggered by tick bites, and it causes a delayed allergic reaction to certain foods—particularly red meat.

What Causes It?
Alpha-gal (short for galactose-α-1,3-galactose) is a sugar molecule found in most mammals, but not in humans, apes, or Old World monkeys. When a lone star tick (or certain other tick species) bites an animal like a deer, it ingests alpha-gal along with the animal’s blood. If that tick later bites a person, traces of alpha-gal can be injected into the human bloodstream through its saliva.

This exposure “tricks” the human immune system into thinking alpha-gal is dangerous, prompting it to make IgE antibodies against it. From then on, whenever the person eats red meat (like beef, pork, lamb, or venison) or products made from mammals (such as gelatin, some dairy, or certain medications), their immune system launches an allergic reaction.

Why Is It Delayed?
Unlike most food allergies, which cause symptoms within minutes, alpha-gal reactions are often delayed by 3–6 hours. That’s because alpha-gal is bound to fat molecules, which take longer to digest and enter the bloodstream.

Symptoms:

Hives, itching, swelling
Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea
Low blood pressure, dizziness
In severe cases, anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction)

Why It Matters:

Many people with AGS don’t realize they have it because the reaction is delayed and may not happen after every meal.
There’s currently no cure—management involves strict avoidance of red meat and sometimes other animal products.
Awareness is growing, but misdiagnosis is still common because the condition is relatively new to medical science (first widely recognized in the 2000s).

Tick Awareness: Prevention is the Best Medicine

The good news is that most tick-borne illnesses can be avoided with some simple precautions:

Dress smart: Wear long sleeves, pants, and tuck pants into socks when in grassy or wooded areas.
Use repellent: Apply EPA-approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or permethrin-treated clothing.
Stay on trails: Avoid brushing against tall grass and shrubs.
Check yourself: Do a full-body tick check after outdoor activities—don’t forget behind ears, under arms, and around the waistline.
Shower soon: Washing off within two hours can help remove ticks before they latch on.

What to Do If You Find a Tick

Remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick close to the skin, and pulling upward steadily.
Clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Monitor for symptoms of illness over the next few weeks, and note the date and location of the bite.

The Bottom Line

Ticks may be small, but the risks they pose are significant—from bacterial infections like Lyme disease to immune system changes like alpha-gal syndrome. With awareness, prevention, and quick action, we can enjoy the outdoors while keeping ourselves safe.