What to know about the alpha-gal allergy

Some people choose not to eat red meat. And some people — a very small but growing group — can’t eat red meat, because a tick bite has made them allergic to it.

A bite from the lone star tick can trigger this red meat allergy, also called the alpha-gal allergy, named after a carbohydrate (alpha-gal) in the saliva of lone star ticks.

When does a tick bite lead to an alpha-gal allergy?

One of the distinguishing features of a lone star tick is the white spot on the back of female ticks. Although its name might suggest the lone star tick lives in Texas, it can be found in the Midwest, the Southeast and the eastern United States.

Most people won’t develop a red meat allergy even if they’re bitten by a lone star tick.

How long after a tick bite could you get alpha-gal allergy?

If the bite does trigger a red meat allergy, it might take days or weeks to develop. Unlike most food allergies that cause symptoms soon after you take the first few bites, the symptoms of an alpha-gal allergy won’t show up for several hours after you eat red meat. About four to eight hours after you eat red meat, you might feel nauseated and vomit, develop hives or have difficulty breathing.

The delayed reaction to red meat might make you think you’re reacting to food poisoning rather than to an allergy. But after a few times eating meat and having that reaction, you might connect the two and need to look into turkey, fish or chicken to replace burgers, bacon, pork and other red meats.

Symptoms of the alpha-gal allergy:

• Hives or rash
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach pain/indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• A drop in blood pressure
• Swollen lips
• Dizziness or faintness

Alpha-gal allergy can cause a severe reaction

If you have the alpha-gal allergy, it’s possible to have an anaphylactic reaction, which can make it hard to breathe and drastically lower your blood pressure. Without treatment, this could be life-threatening.

Who develops an alpha-gal allergy?

Many people who get bitten by a lone star tick don’t have any problems. And the alpha-gal allergy is much more common among adults than children.

It’s unclear why some people develop an allergy and some don’t. Similarly, it’s unclear why some people develop an allergy to peanuts, milk or another food while others can eat those foods without any problems.

Alpha-gal allergy also causes a reaction to gelatin

Beef, pork and other red meats aren’t the only foods you’ll need to avoid if you develop an alpha-gal allergy. The allergy can also cause the same symptoms when you eat anything containing gelatin. That includes Jell-O, some puddings, marshmallows and certain medications.

Why alpha-gal allergy prevalence is hard to track

What’s tricky about any type of tick bite is that, often, you can’t feel it. That’s especially true if the tick bites and leaves, instead of staying on your skin and fattening up on your blood.

After biting, a lone star tick doesn’t have to be there long to infect you with their saliva that can cause this allergy.

People who live near the woods or spend a lot of time there might also have a hard time determining when they would have been bitten by a lone star tick.

Does the red meat allergy ever go away?

No, alpha-gal syndrome doesn’t go away. However, over time, some people lose their sensitivity to meat and gelatin. Other people do not. Researchers don’t yet know why this happens.

How common is the alpha-gal allergy in Ohio?

It’s not common. But some people might have a red meat allergy and don’t realize it yet. The people I’ve treated with alpha-gal allergy had repeated episodes or an anaphylactic reaction to red meat.

When to seek medical attention for a suspected alpha-gal allergy

If you think you’re having a reaction to food of any kind, talk to your health care provider about it. When red meat is leading to repeated reactions, you should see an allergist to test whether you have an alpha-gal allergy or another type of allergy.

Lone star ticks are only about one-third of an inch in size before they start feeding, so they’re easy to overlook. They’re most active from April through August, when a lot of us are outdoors among them, so it’s important to take precautions to avoid tick bites of any kind.