This tick also has been found as far west as central Texas and Oklahoma.Īlpha-gal syndrome also happens in other parts of the world. In the past 20 to 30 years, the Lone Star tick has been found in large numbers as far north as Maine.

Have gotten multiple Lone Star tick bites.

You're at higher risk if you live or spend time in these regions and: The condition mostly happens in the south, east and central United States. Health care providers don't yet know why some people get alpha-gal syndrome after exposure and others don't. The antibodies that the immune system makes to alpha-gal seem to react to the structure of the drug as well. Research appears to show that cases of this drug allergy are linked to alpha-gal syndrome. People with antibodies related to alpha-gal syndrome can have allergic reactions to the cancer drug cetuximab (Erbitux). People who get many tick bites over time may develop worse symptoms. They cannot eat any foods made from mammals without having an allergic reaction. The response is so strong that people with this allergy can no longer eat red meat. These antibodies target alpha-gal as something the immune system needs to clear out. The body makes proteins called antibodies. When a tick that carries these molecules bites a human, the tick sends alpha-gal into the person's body.įor unknown reasons, some people have a strong immune response to these molecules. These come from the blood of the animals they usually bite, such as cows and sheep. Tick bitesĮxperts think the ticks that cause alpha-gal syndrome carry alpha-gal molecules.

These other ticks cause alpha-gal syndrome in parts of Europe, Australia, Asia, South Africa, and South and Central America. Bites from other types of ticks can lead to the condition too. get the condition when a Lone Star tick bites them. Most people with alpha-gal syndrome in the U.S. Full-body redness and warmth, called flushing.Drooling and not being able to swallow.Get emergency medical treatment if you have symptoms of a serious allergic reaction that causes trouble breathing, called anaphylaxis, such as: That's even more important if you live or spend time in parts of the world where alpha-gal syndrome has been reported. See your primary care health care provider or an allergy specialist, called an allergist.ĭon't rule out red meat as a possible cause of your reaction.

Get help if you have food allergy symptoms after you eat, even several hours after you eat. They say it's due to the alpha-gal molecules taking longer than other allergens to be digested and enter the system that moves blood through the body. Researchers think they know the reason for the delayed reaction. For example, a possible connection between a T-bone steak with dinner and hives at midnight is far from clear. The time delay between eating meat products and getting an allergic reaction may be one reason alpha-gal syndrome was not understood at first. Stomach pain, diarrhea, upset stomach or vomiting.Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts.Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome may include: Products made from mammals, such as gelatins or dairy products.In alpha-gal syndrome, reactions usually appear about 3 to 6 hours after you are exposed. Most reactions to common food allergens - peanuts or shellfish, for example - happen within minutes after you are exposed to them. The symptoms of an alpha-gal allergic reaction usually take longer to start compared with those of other food allergies. Check your whole body for ticks after you spend time outside. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when you're in wooded, grassy areas. If you have a serious allergic reaction, you may need medicine called epinephrine and treatment at the emergency room.Īvoid tick bites to prevent alpha-gal syndrome.

There's no treatment other than avoiding red meat and other products made from mammals. Researchers think that some of these people may be affected by alpha-gal syndrome. Tests also show that they don't have other food allergies. There are people who often have serious allergic reactions, also called anaphylactic reactions, for no clear reason. Some people may have alpha-gal syndrome and not know it. Alpha-gal syndrome has been diagnosed in parts of Europe, Australia, Asia, South Africa, and South and Central America. Other types of ticks carry alpha-gal molecules in different parts of the world. Deer are carrying the Lone Star tick to new parts of the country. But the condition appears to be spreading farther north and west.

Most cases of alpha-gal syndrome are reported in the south, east and central United States. The Lone Star tick is found mainly in the southeastern United States.

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