by Christine McDermott, MS, RDN, CDE, BC-ADM, CDN

Tis the season for ticks ☹

Diseases from ticks are on the rise (1). You may have heard of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease but have you heard of Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

A tick bite, especially from the Lone Star Tick can cause a person to be sensitive to red meats, including beef, pork, lamb, as well as, venison, bison, buffalo, mutton, occasionally cow’s milk/dairy products.  Chicken, turkey and fish do not have alpha galactose and can usually be consumed without reaction.

Alpha-gal is a sugar that ticks ingest from previous animal feedings and when the tick bites us, the alpha-gal is transmitted to us and our immune system reacts to it, developing an allergy to this type of carbohydrate.

Symptoms may include hives, itching, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat or other body parts, wheezing or shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can include restriction of airway, swelling of throat, drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, dizziness or loss of consciousness (2).  Therefore, it is  recommended to go the Emergency Room.

A person with an Alpha-Gal allergy will experience a reaction several hours after eating red meat. Reasons for this delay are thought to be because alpha-gal is a sugar and a response to sugar may be a weaker response than from a protein (3).

The only treatment for the Alpha-Gal Syndrome is to avoid red meat.  Over time, without any further tick bites, it may be possible to overcome the allergy.

Alpha-gal allergy is diagnosed by an allergist, or other healthcare provider, through the IGE Alpha-Gal test.

The Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists at East End Nutrition would be happy to help you ensure your safety and develop a meal plan that will meet your dietary needs while navigating this tick-caused allergy.

References:

1. Lyme and Other Tickborne Diseases Increasing, retrieved June 3, 2019, www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/diseases-and-conditions..
2. Alpha-Gal Syndrome, retrieved June 15, 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal.
3. Commins, S, Falk, R  (Sept.12, 2017), retrieved June 3, 2019, www.med.unc.edu/…/chairs-corner/podcast/alpha-gal