Understanding Alpha-Gal Syndrome
An illness known as Alpha-Gal Syndrome has grown in the U.S. over the past few years. Approximately 110,000 cases of the syndrome were reported from 2010 to 2022 in the U.S. Experts think there could be far more cases because many may go undiagnosed or unreported.
The West has the fewest number of cases with most being reported in the southern, central, and eastern parts of the country. It’s uncertain whether that’s because doctors in those areas are becoming more aware or because that’s where the ticks causing the ailment are frequently found.
What Is AGS?
Alpha-Gal Syndrome is an allergic but unusual one caused by a tick bite. It causes people to become allergic to sugar that is found in most meat. That prevents people from being able to eat things like beef, pork, lamb, or other types of mammals.
The symptoms can be mild like a rash or severe like diarrhea and vomiting and they typically happen about three to six hours after consuming meat. It can be life-threatening.
The offending carbohydrate is galatose-a-1,3-galatose, which is where the syndrome gets its name. It is found in meats but can also be found in other products, like dairy and even medications, where the carbohydrate is used in the processing.
That severely limits a person’s diet and medications. One patient said the syndrome seemed to aim at things he had eaten his whole life, beef and pork, while other types of meat didn’t give him a reaction. He rarely goes out to eat because of possible cross-contamination issues between beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Few restaurants cater to those with this allergy although they are accustomed to providing for people with other types of food allergies. This ailment is still so new that many don’t yet know about it.
The main cause of AGS in the U.S. is the lone star tick. These ticks have alpha-gal in their guts and saliva and pass it to those they bite. This triggers the immune system to produce antibodies. That makes the person sensitive to alpha-gal and the person’s immune system will produce a response any time the body is exposed to alpha-gal again, as in when they eat meat.
No medical treatment exists for this syndrome but more research is being done. One of the unique factors of AGS is it affects everyone differently, meaning they can become allergic to different things depending on their diet and their immune response. It can change also. One day, you may be able to eat one meat or food product and can’t eat it a month later without getting an allergic response. Those with AGS must be vigilant about logging symptoms after meals.
What Are the Symptoms?
AGS symptoms can be mild or severe but always happen within a few hours after you eat. They may include an itchy rash, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, swelling of the eyelids, lips, and tongue, severe stomach pain, or dizziness.
These are similar to other types of allergic reactions so it’s important to understand if other allergies may be involved. Those who experience these symptoms should seek immediate attention.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Alpha-gal is incredibly difficult to diagnose because it resembles other types of allergies. The doctor will ask you if you’ve been outdoors recently, or had any tick bites, and will examine your skin. The key is to do bloodwork to look for antibodies fighting alpha-gala or the meat you’ve consumed.
While there isn’t a cure or recognized treatment for AGS, there are medications you can take like self-injectable epinephrine and antihistamines to ward off allergic reactions. Oral corticosteroids are helpful. The best course of treatment is a change of diet to eliminate meat, dairy products, or other consumable items that contain the carbohydrate. This includes halting eating beef, pork, venison, lamb, goat, and rabbit and making sure food is cooked separately from these things when eating with others.