The Meat Allergy Caused by a Tick Bite: Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic reaction to red meat, dairy and other products made from mammals, triggered by a bite from the Lone Star tick.

Identifying Lone Star Ticks: A female Lone-Star tick has a single white dot on its back, unique from other ticks.

The Lone Star tick is found across Midwestern, mid-Atlantic and Southern United States. Only 24 alpha-gal cases were documented in 2009. Migration of the Lone Star tick has resulted in a staggering 450,000 people now affected.

Symptoms include:

• Dizziness
• Facial swelling
• Shortness of breath & wheezing
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea & vomiting
• Hives & itching
• Diarrhea

Symptoms usually start 6 – 8 hours after eating meat and can range from mild to severe.

“While there’s no treatment for alpha-gal syndrome, we’re seeing that if people strictly avoid red meat, their antibody levels can decrease. Some patients may eventually tolerate meat again.” – Nancy Wasserbauer Kingston, DO, Immunology Specialist

If you find a tick, here’s the proper way to remove it:

• Use a pair of tweezers or tick removal kit and grab the tick’s head close to the skin.
• Gently pull upward until the tick is removed.
• Don’t squeeze hard or yank the tick out – that risks germs spreading and may leave pieces of the tick in your body.
• Clean your skin with soap and water.