A red meat allergy triggered by tick bites? It might sound like science-fiction, but this all-too-real syndrome is becoming all-too-common. Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS) develops after a tick bite causes a person’s immune system to have an allergic reaction to a type of sugar molecule found in red meat. This molecule, known as galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal for short) is present beef, pork or lamb, milk and milk products, as well as other products made from red meat.
In the last decade, the number of people suffering from AGS has soared by nearly 10,000 percent! The meteoric rise in cases is due to the explosion of lone star tick populations, particularly in the Northeastern US. These ticks, once mostly found in the Southeast, have quickly expanded their territory to northern and western states. This migration has been made possible by the rapidly warming climate, driven by human activity, as well the increase of deer populations.
The rapid shift in tick populations caught physicians and patients off-guard. Because alpha gal was so rare not long ago, many healthcare providers do not suspect it as the culprit for their patient’s symptoms. AGS is also hard to identify because the symptoms are often delayed by 3-6 hours after a meal. As a result, it is easy for people to mistake these allergic reactions for food poisoning or irritable bowel syndrome.
Common symptoms of AGS include gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, cramping, bloating, vomiting and nausea, several hours following exposure to products containing alpha gal.
For more information, see HealthDay, VCU Health
