Alpha-Gal Syndrome: When a Tick-Bite Causes A Meat Allergy

At some point in our lives, most of us have had a tick bite. Your out hiking or playing with your dog on a beautiful warm day, only to find a creepy little black tick crawling on you or your furry best friend. In many cases, you may not find the tick until later, after its already attached to you. As if there were not enough tick borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, to worry about the Lone Star Tick specifically has brought a new worry to our communities: Alpha gal syndrome, also known as the red meat allergy.

Galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is a carbohydrate found in red mammalian meat such as beef, pork, lamb, and venison. After a tick bite by the Lone Star Tick, some individuals develop IgE antibodies to the alpha-gal carbohydrate. This essentially causes the development of a potentially anaphylactic food allergy when these meats are consumed. The tricky part? Alpha gal does not behave exactly like your typical IgE allergy. Where a typical IgE mediated food allergy, such as a peanut allergy, will start to cause symptoms within minutes of eating the food, alpha gal reactions are often delayed by hours. This means that you feel fine until several hours after you ate the meat- then you may start to develop symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea, wheezing, shortness of breath, hives, or swelling. In severe cases, anaphylaxis can develop.

How is Alpha Gal Diagnosed

Alpha gal is diagnosed via a simple blood test. Blood is taken to the lab and a test is ran to identify any IgE antibodies to the alpha gal carbohydrate in your blood sample. The presence of IgE antibodies to alpha 1, 3 galactose confirms the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment consists largely of avoidance of red meats, including beef, pork, lamb, venison and organ meats. Some sensitive individuals may also react to other mammal products such as gelatin, lard or tallow and dairy products.

If you have alpha gal, it is important to see a healthcare provider experienced with this type of allergy. Your healthcare provider can make an individualized treatment plan for you, including medications that can help you live safely with your alpha gal diagnosis.

If you have alpha gal or are needing tested for alpha gal schedule your appointment today at Monarch Medical. We are here to help you navigate the diagnosis and treatment, every step of the way.