Backyard Bug Patrol Warns About Alpha Gal Syndrome That Is Caused By Tick Bites

Great Falls, Virginia -

Backyard Bug Patrol, a pest control services company based in Great Falls, VA, has recently published a blog post that warns about alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), which is a little-known but life-threatening food allergy that is triggered by a tick bite. Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, which is also known as alpha-gal, is a sugar molecule found in humans. The lone star tick’s saliva contains alpha-gal and when it bites a person, this sugar molecule is injected into the body and triggers allergies to certain kinds of red meat, primarily beef, pork, venison, or rabbit meat. Some people also become allergic to products made from mammals, such as milk, cheese, other dairy products, and gelatin. The blog post can be accessed at https://backyardbugpatrol.com/tick-control/alpha-gal-syndrome-and-tick-bites/.

Allergic reactions due to AGS may include skin rashes, vomiting, itchy skin, shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, throat, and tongue, nausea, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness or even fainting, and low blood pressure. The symptoms vary from person to person and can worsen over time. Sometimes the reaction a person has to alpha-gal may even result in death. Antihistamines and other allergy medications may be used if people are experiencing these symptoms. If the reaction is extremely severe, an epinephrine injection may be needed and a visit to the emergency room may be necessary.

The lone star tick is one of the species of ticks that bite people and is responsible for causing AGS. The tick gets the alpha-gal sugar molecule from biting infected mammals such as sheep and cows. For reasons that are not yet known, injection of alpha-gal into a person’s body causes a strong immune response. This immune response is so strong that people with AGS are no longer able to eat red meat. They cannot ingest any foods coming from mammals without experiencing an allergic reaction. Studies are still being conducted to find out why people develop these allergic reactions.

One of the best ways to avoid getting AGS is to eliminate all traces of ticks from the home and backyard. Backyard Bug Patrol can help in getting rid of ticks through its barrier spray programs. They offer two different programs, including one that is 100 percent fully organic. The spray acts as an invisible protective barrier on the bushes and leaves in the yard, eliminating and repelling both ticks and mosquitoes. The solution is sprayed on bushes and shrubs because ticks tend to hang off the tips of the leaves of bushes and shrubs, waiting for humans and other mammals to pass by so they can latch onto their victims.

Launched in 2010, Backyard Bug Patrol is committed to providing excellent customer service for pest control services. The company assists homeowners in Virginia and Maryland to get rid of mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests from their homes and backyards.

Those who are interested in eliminating pests from their home can check out the Backyard Bug Patrol website or contact them through the telephone or by email. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from Monday to Friday. Those who want to know more about the company, such as their office location and the reviews they have received can check out their Google Maps page at https://goo.gl/maps/6zRWtU89Ri82.