Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS; Permanent Tick-Borne Red Meat Allergy)

[EnolaGaia]

Here are the basic facts ...

---

What is alpha-gal?

Alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) is a sugar molecule found in most mammals.
Alpha-gal is not found in fish, reptiles, birds, or people.
Alpha-gal can be found in meat (for example, pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, venison) and products made from mammals (including gelatin, cow’s milk, and milk products).

What is alpha-gal syndrome?

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) (also called alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. AGS symptoms occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products containing alpha-gal. AGS can have life-changing effects.

AGS reactions can include:

diagram of man's body showing red rash all over
Hives or itchy rash
Nausea or vomiting
Heartburn or indigestion
Diarrhea
Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
Drop in blood pressure
Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eye lids
Dizziness or faintness
Severe stomach pain
Symptoms usually appear 2–6 hours after eating meat or dairy products, or after exposure to products containing alpha-gal (for example, gelatin-coated medications). People may not have an allergic reaction after every alpha-gal exposure.

SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/alpha-gal/resources/alpha-gal-syndrome-factsheet.html

 

[EnolaGaia]

Here's a news story illustrating the permanent life-changing effects AGS has had on two victims.

No more steak, hamburgers? Common tick in Georgia causes allergic reaction to red meat

One day you are able to enjoy steak, hamburgers and sausage, and the next day those foods cause a severe allergic reaction.

People who suffer from a condition called alpha-gal syndrome break out in hives after eating red meat.

“I was fully covered in these hives head to toe. Literally from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet,” said Rob Attaway, who has alpha-gal syndrome.

Attaway first broke out in hives 12 years ago. The Roswell man said he had itching that lasted for hours and was unbearable. ...

He told Channel 2 Action News that he suffered for nine years before finally getting answers from an allergist.

“Found the problem: stop eating red meat. And I stopped eating red meat and within three days of that everything started to clear up,” Attaway said.

He tested positive for alpha-gal syndrome, a delayed allergic reaction to red meat. There is usually a three-to-eight-hour lag time. It’s caused by a bite from the Lone Star tick, the most common tick found in Georgia. ...

“My face went numb — completely. And I went into and looked in the mirror and I was so contorted. I thought I was having a stroke,” said Jim Dickerson, who also suffers from alpha-gal syndrome.

He thinks a Lone Star tick bit him while he was vacationing in Florida in October 2021. Dickerson first realized something was wrong after passing out while using a leaf blower in his yard.

“It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced,” Dickerson said.

He said his blood pressure dropped severely from the alpha-gal syndrome, causing him to fall and break his back. “It’s amazing how your life can change from one little bite,” Dickerson said.

Both Dickerson and Attaway can no longer eat their favorite foods. ...

Dr. Ted Lee, with the Peachtree Allergy and Asthma Clinic, has seen more than 100 alpha-gal patients over the past 37 years.

He said it’s spread to people by a tick that has fed on a mammal like a deer or a cow.

“It brings those chemicals, those antigens from that mammal into the human when it feeds on them, and then it causes an aberrant immune response,” Lee said.

He said there is no cure for alpha-gal. Therefore, preventing tick bites is key. ...

FULL STORY: https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/at...reaction-red-meat/FWAKHTB7FBH37HJVPAJNQMTH3Y/