Ever heard of a tick meat allergy (also known more formally as alpha-gal syndrome)? This is caused by the bite of a very specific type of tick which then triggers an allergy to mammalian meat (that comes from cows, pigs, sheep, etc.).

Alpha-gal syndrome is different to other food allergies. Take peanut allergies, for example. Symptoms like hives and wheezing typically show up very quickly after consuming peanuts or peanut-containing foods.

If you have an alpha-gal allergy, it usually takes a few hours between meat consumption and the onset of symptoms. This can make it very tricky to diagnose.

Because an alpha meat allergy is not just to one type of animal, it causes a significant diet change AND is tricky when it comes to picking supplements (as this type of allergy isn’t on the top 9 allergen list).

Joining me to shed some light on alpha gal mammalian meat allergy is Dr. David Fitzhugh, an allergist/immunologist in private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

He specializes in food immunotherapy for children and adults with severe food allergies but treats a wide variety of allergic and immunologic conditions, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, mast cell disorders, and anaphylaxis.

In This Episode:

• What is alpha-gal syndrome and what triggers it?
• Tick meat allergy origins
• Who is at risk for alpha-gal allergy?
• How is alpha-gal syndrome diagnosed?
• Alpha-gal allergy symptoms
• What is pork-cat syndrome?
• Timeline from tick bite to triggering alpha-gal allergy symptoms
• Alpha-gal syndrome and dairy: Is it problem?
• Medications to avoid if you have alpha-gal syndrome
• Is there treatment available for alpha meat allergy?

Quotes

“You have to live where the tick is prevalent, number one. And number two, you know the typical person that we might see with alpha-gal tends to be someone who spends a lot of time outdoors because those are people that are getting tick bites…And again I'll reinforce, of course, not everybody who gets bit by Lone Star Tick develops alpha-gal.”

“Patients, in my experience, they have this sort of palmar-plantar itching, right? They complain of itching on the palms of their hands, soles of their feet, and then sometimes hives erupt, and then sometimes mild GI symptoms. My stomach was a little upset. I felt a little queasy, but sometimes overt, significant diarrhea and vomiting.”

Links

Find Dr. Fitzhugh online

Healthy Skin Show ep. 339: How Sensitive Are You?: Best Test For Food Allergy (IgE) Sensitivity w/ Dr. David Fitzhugh

Healthy Skin Show ep. 056: Hidden Lyme Disease And Your Skin w/ Dr. Darin Ingels

High-risk groups for alpha-gal sensitization

Successful Treatment for Alpha Gal Mammal Product Allergy Using Auricular Acupuncture: A Case Series

A Guide for People with Alpha-gal Syndrome

CDC – Products That May Contain Alpha-gal

Health Care Provider Knowledge Regarding Alpha-gal Syndrome