Kenzie James
ECB Publishing, Inc.
A prevalent tick in northeast Florida has been found to spread numerous illnesses and diseases to humans, causing severe symptoms in patients after tick bites.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the lone star tick is a “very aggressive tick” that bites humans. Found in the southern and eastern United States, lone star ticks have a light brown back and the females are easily identified by a white spot in the center of their back. The CDC said lone star ticks are known to bite humans in all three stages of life: larvae, nymph and adult. The most common season for tick diseases is spring and summer, when people spend more time outside. June, July and August are the three months when lone star ticks in all three stages are likely to bite humans.
Most ticks spread lyme disease with their bites, but lone star ticks spread other diseases instead of lyme. These ticks spread rare illnesses including ehrlichiosis, heartland virus disease, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), bourbon virus disease and tularemi. Lone star ticks have also commonly caused alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). Symptoms of these illnesses do not always begin until a few days or weeks after a tick bite. Each disease or illness has specific signs, but common symptoms include:
• Fever
• Chills
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
AGS, known as “red meat allergy,” is primarily associated with lone star ticks and causes a patient to have symptoms of an allergic reaction after consuming red meat or red meat products, such as gelatin and milk. In addition to some of the common symptoms listed above, AGS symptoms may include:
Hives or itchy rash
Heartburn or indigestion
Diarrhea
Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Drop in blood pressure
Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue or eyelids
Severe stomach pain
Madison County resident Beth Moore was bitten by a lone star tick about a year ago and was diagnosed with AGS in October of 2023.
“The first reaction I had, I'd eaten a hamburger that evening, and about two in the morning my hands started itching and my tongue started swelling, I was having trouble breathing,” Moore said. Moore learned in the emergency room that she was in anaphylaxis but did not know what the cause was. A month later, after a similar reaction, Moore did research and a blood test and the doctor diagnosed her with AGS. Moore said she also experienced other AGS symptoms, including stomach cramps and diarrhea, before her first reaction.
Moore said the tick population in Madison has increased significantly in recent years due to the increase in population of white-tailed deer. Deer are one of the main animals lone star ticks feed on, so the increase in deer impacted the population of ticks. The increase in ticks is also reflected in the number of tick bites the Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) has seen. A MCMH data analysis by program manager Kevin Angel showed that there were 34 patients with reported insect or arthropod (tick) bites or stings from quarter four of 2022 through the ongoing quarter two of 2024. Roughly one-third of the total 34 patients were from the current quarter.
“Roughly two months into Quarter Two of 2024, we have seen 12 patients with insect- or arthropod-related bites and stings, nearly double the number seen in Quarter Two of last year,” the data analysis said. The number of patients with insect or tick bites from quarter two of 2023 was seven patients.
Like more common insect bites, there are ways to protect oneself against ticks to try to prevent bites. Dr. Perkins, the Chief Medical Office at MCMH said the best way to protect against tick bites is tick repellent with DEET, a chemical commonly used in insect and tick repellents.
“Avoid sitting on logs, stumps, or the ground. Wear a white long-sleeved shirt so that it is easier to see ticks while they are crawling. Tuck your pants into your socks so they cannot climb up your pants leg,” Perkins said. “And lastly, periodically inspect your clothes and your body for ticks and remove them before they attach."
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