Tick borne diseases VS Covid19 similarity in symptoms.

[Toliver]

I have been experiencing stomach distress shortly after eating steak or hamburgers more frequently so I started looking at the possibility of the Alpha-Gal allergy. I am experiencing only 1 symptom out of the whole list so I doubt I have that particular problem but as I was reading about the nastiness that ticks can share with us I found this other information. Sometimes ticks come off without you ever knowing they were there so with the similarity of symptoms, you may not put 2 and 2 together to tell the doctor to test for tick diseases when the Covid test comes back negative. (provided your symptoms are bad enough to even go to a doctor or test site)

I also learned that the CDC doesn't believe there's enough evidence and research to definitively determine that Alpha-Gal comes from ticks. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/alpha-gal/index.html
Can you get an alpha-gal allergy from a tick bite?

• Scientists do not yet know. Data from the United States and other countries suggest that alpha-gal allergy may be associated with tick bites. However, more research is needed to determine if tick bites can cause alpha-gal allergy.

What can you do to prevent alpha-gal allergy?
Until additional research confirms this association with tick bites, take steps to prevent tick bites.

• Before you go outdoors
  • Avoid grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, where ticks may be found.
  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or buy pre-treated items.
  • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents.external icon
• After you come indoors
  • Check your clothing for ticks.
  • Shower and perform a thorough tick check.
• If you see an attached tick, remove it immediately.
  • Take steps to prevent ticks on your pets and in your yard.

And a side note, other than spotted fever, Georgia is barely touched by tick diseases compared to some other states. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/overview.html

Here are most of the diseases listed on the CDC website that have similar symptoms. This all but about 3 or 4 of them. I didn't realize there were so many.

Signs and Symptoms LYME DISEASE
Localized Stage*

• Erythema migrans (EM)—red ring-like or homogenous expanding rash; classic rash not present in all cases. See examples on following pages.
• Flu-like symptoms—malaise, headache, fever, myalgia, arthralgia
• Lymphadenopathy

Disseminated Stage

• Multiple secondary annular rashes
• Flu-like symptoms
• Lymphadenopathy

Signs and Symptoms ANAPLASMOSIS

• Fever, chills, rigors
• Severe headache
• Malaise
• Myalgia
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia)
• Rash (<10%)

Signs and Symptoms BABSIOSIS

• Fever, chills, sweats
• Malaise, fatigue
• Myalgia, arthralgia, headache
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as anorexia and nausea (less common: abdominal pain, vomiting)
• Dark urine
• Less common: cough, sore throat, emotional lability, depression, photophobia, conjunctival injection
• Mild splenomegaly, mild hepatomegaly, or jaundice may occur in some patients

Signs and Symptoms Borrelia miyamotoi Disease

• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Severe headache
• Arthralgia/myalgia
• Dizziness, confusion, vertigo (uncommon)
• Rash (uncommon)
• Dyspnea (uncommon)
• Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anorexia (uncommon)

Signs and Symptoms Colorado Tick Fever

• Fever, chills, headache, myalgias, and lethargy
• ~50% of patients have a biphasic illness with symptoms remitting after 2 to 4 days, but then recurring 1 to 3 days later.
• Conjunctival injection, pharyngeal erythema and lymphadenopathy may be present.
• Maculopapular or petechial rash in <20% of patients
• Prolonged convalescence characterized by weakness and fatigue is common in adults.
• Life-threatening complications and death are rare and usually associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation or meningoencephalitis in children.

Signs and Symptoms Ehrlichiosis

• Fever, chills
• Headache
• Malaise
• Muscle pain
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia)
• Altered mental status
• Rash (more commonly reported among children)

Signs and Symptoms Heartland and Bourbon Virus Disease

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Decreased appetite
• Headache
• Arthralgia
• Myalgia
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Signs and Symptoms Lyme Disease
Localized Stage*

• Erythema migrans (EM)—red ring-like or homogenous expanding rash; classic rash not present in all cases. See examples on following pages.
• Flu-like symptoms—malaise, headache, fever, myalgia, arthralgia
• Lymphadenopathy

Disseminated Stage

• Multiple secondary annular rashes
• Flu-like symptoms
• Lymphadenopathy

Signs and Symptoms Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Early (1–4 Days)

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Malaise
• Myalgia
• Edema around eyes and on the back of hands
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, anorexia)

Late (5 Days and Beyond)

• Altered mental status, coma, cerebral edema
• Respiratory compromise (pulmonary edema, ARDS)
• Necrosis, requiring amputation
• Multiorgan system damage (CNS, renal failure)

Signs and Symptoms Tularemia

• Fever, chills
• Headache
• Malaise, fatigue
• Anorexia
• Myalgia
• Chest discomfort, cough
• Sore throat
• Vomiting, diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

(Ulcero) Glandular

• Localized lymphadenopathy
• Cutaneous ulcer at infection site (not always present)

Oculoglandular

• Photophobia
• Excessive lacrimation
• Conjunctivitis
• Preauricular, submandibular and cervical lymphadenopathy

Oropharyngeal

• Severe throat pain
• Exudative pharyngitis or tonsillitis
• Cervical, preparotid, and/or retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy

Pneumonic

• Non-productive cough
• Substernal tightness
• Pleuritic chest pain
• Hilar adenopathy, infiltrate, or pleural effusion may be present on chest X-ray

Typhoidal

• Characterized by any combination of the general symptoms (without localizing symptoms of other syndromes)