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Alpha gal symptoms

Understanding Alpha-gal Symptoms and Causes
The red meat allergy caused by tick bites can trigger alpha gal symptoms such as hives, stomach pain, or even severe allergic reactions after eating red meat.
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Alpha gal Symptoms meat allergy
Alpha gal lone star tick

Alpha-gal Syndrome: How a tick bite can trigger a meat allergy

When most people think of food allergies, they imagine having a reaction to peanuts, shellfish, or dairy products. But there’s another type of allergy emerging in certain parts of the United States – and it all starts with a tick bite.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as the red meat allergy, is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic condition caused primarily by the bite of a lone star tick. Unlike other food allergies, alpha gal symptoms may not appear right away. Symptoms often show up several hours after eating red meat or any foods from mammals, making it difficult to recognize food as the cause.

What is Alpha-gal?

Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals but not in humans. It’s present in foods like beef, pork, lamb, venison, and some dairy products. It is also found in the saliva of some ticks.

Alpha-gal syndrome is caused by a tick bite, primarily from the lone star tick in the U.S. However, it has also been linked to tick bites from the blacklegged tick and western blacklegged tick. In other countries, various tick species can cause AGS.

When a tick bites, it can pass alpha-gal from its saliva into the bloodstream. In some people, alpha-gal triggers a reaction in their immune system that causes an allergic response whenever they eat red meat, including beef, pork, or lamb, or food products derived from mammals, such as milk and gelatin.

Alpha-Gal: A Tick Bite with Life-Changing Consequences

90%
PATIENTS
About 90% of patients develop skin symptoms.
60%
PATIENTS
About 60% of patients develop anaphylaxis.
450K
PEOPLE
Nearly 450,000 people in the U.S. may have alpha-gal syndrome.
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alpha gal symptoms trigger vaccines
alpha-gal-trigger-gelatin
alpha gal symptoms trigger jello
alpha-gal-trigger-personal-products-2

What triggers Alpha gal symptoms?

While alpha gal symptoms may take several hours to appear, exposure to alpha-gal via inhalation, injected drugs or vaccines can cause an immediate reaction. Personal products that use ingredients containing “hydrolyzed protein” (gelatin), lanolin, glycerin, collagen, or tallow are particularly problematic.

Additional products that can trigger alpha gal symptoms are jello, gelatin capsules, certain medications, pig or cow heart valves, surgical mesh, certain vaccines and unlabeled “natural flavorings” in foods.

Alpha-gal Syndrome: Common Symptoms

Alpha gal symptoms usually don’t appear right away. They typically show up 2 – 6 hours after eating. This delay can make it hard to identify the food as the cause. Alpha-gal can cause mild to severe symptoms. It also can cause you to have reactions to other foods that come from mammals, such as dairy products or gelatin.

Because alpha gal symptoms can appear in the middle of the night (long after dinner), people may not immediately suspect a food allergy. In fact, researchers believe that some individuals may have alpha-gal syndrome and not even know it.

Alpha gal symptoms include:

  • Hives or itchy rash

  • Swelling of lips, face, tongue, or throat

  • Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting

  • Shortness of breath or wheezing

  • In severe cases, anaphylaxis. This is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction where blood pressure drops dangerously low and breathing becomes difficult.

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Recognizing and Managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal Syndrome is diagnosed through a combination of physical examination, detailed medical history (including any tick bites or exposure to ticks), and laboratory testing. These may include blood tests that can detect antibodies to alpha-gal, the sugar molecule that triggers the allergic reaction and allergy testing for specific mammalian foods, such as beef, pork, lamb, and dairy, may also be recommended to identify triggers.

alpha gal diagnosis

The only treatment involves eliminating exposure to red meat and other products containing alpha-gal.

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Note: The information presented on this page has been reviewed and approved by a member of our Medical Leadership Board.

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