Ticks give us Lyme disease. That’s the headline. But there’s another one. Lesser-known, but rising. Alpha-gal syndrome.
It’s a nasty business. A tick bites you, and suddenly you can’t eat meat. Or dairy. Life-changing is putting it mildly.
It’s not Lyme-disease-level common, yet. Thank God. But it’s not rare anymore either. The lone star tick is multiplying. Showing up in parts of the country it wasn’t before. Numbers are going up.
Here is what you need to know, before the bite happens.
Experts weigh in: Thomas Russo, MD (University at Buffalo) and William Schaffner, MD (Vanderbilt University)
What exactly is alpha-gal?
Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS. It is a potentially lethal allergy. Tickborne.
The name comes from a molecule. Galactose-α-1, three-galactose. Just call it alpha-gal. Most mammals have it in their bodies. Humans? No. The CDC is clear on this. It is not us. But it is in the saliva of certain ticks.
When a lone star tick bites you, it spits. Its saliva goes into your blood. Your immune system sees the alpha-gal molecule and thinks threat. It launches an allergic response.
Now the allergy is live. Every time you eat red meat. Or touch mammal-derived products. Your body attacks.
Severity varies wildly. Some get mild. Others risk death.
Signs that something is wrong
It looks like any other allergy. Just slower to kick in.
Thomas Russo says symptoms show up anywhere from two to six hours after you eat the meat. Two to six. That lag confuses people. They think they’re just hungry, or stressed, until the hives hit.
The CDC lists the usual suspects:
– Hives
– Nausea and vomiting
– Severe stomach pain
– Diarrhea
– Heartburn
– Coughing
– Shortness of breath
– Dropping blood pressure
– Swelling. Lips. Throat. Eyes.
– Dizziness
And then there’s anaphylaxis. Life-threatening. Bad.
Who gets it? How many?
Nobody really knows for sure. It’s not nationally reported.
But the CDC has found over 110,00 suspected cases between 2010 22. Suspected. The real number could be higher. Or lower.
Geographically? Southern. Eastern. Central states. Basically where the lone star tick likes to live.
Why is it exploding now?
Two main reasons.
One. We are better at diagnosing it. We look for it more. So we find it more. William Schaffner points this out first.
Two. The winters are too nice. Mild winters let the pests survive. Populations boom. “We are anticipating an abundance of ticks this season,” Schaffner says. That’s an understatement.
Diagnosis and the bad news about cure
Diagnosis requires a blood test. They look for antibodies fighting alpha-gal. Plus a physical exam and your history. Dr. Russo spells it out.
Treatment? There is none.
You avoid the source. Mammal meat. Dairy. Gelatin. Chicken and seafood? Still safe. They don’t carry the molecule.
The government is looking at new tools. The Department of Health and Human Services has a new initiative. Investigating products to stop the allergy after a bite. But nothing exists yet. Not right now.
If you accidentally eat steak? Mild symptoms call for antihistamines. Severe symptoms require an EpiPen. Keep it handy.
Is there hope? Maybe. Schaffner notes that if you don’t get bitten again, your sensitivity can fade over years. Slowly.
“Over years, your sensitivity to the molecule abates. If you don’t get further bitten.”
How to not get bit
The only strategy is avoidance. Total prevention.
Use repellent. DEET works. Permethrin kills ticks. Note the distinction: permethrin goes on clothes only. Never on skin. Spray your gear, let it dry, go out.
Dress like a hiker, even in summer. Long pants tucked into socks. Ticks can’t climb over that barrier.
Wear light colors. Ticks are dark. You’ll spot them against white or khaki. Dark clothes hide them.
When you come inside. Stop. Check your whole body.
Look in the warm places. Hairline. Ears. Underarms. Belly button. Waistline. Back of the knees. Groin. Anywhere skin folds.
And if you get weird symptoms after eating red meat? Call your doctor. Ask for the test. Don’t wait.
