One bite from this insect can cause life-long meat allergy
Topics: Health
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image
Topics: Health
Just one bite from this insect can lead to a life-long allergy to meat, and you won’t know how bad it is until you munch on a burger.
There are a lot of stories coming out about tick bites, but this specific kind can give you symptoms that are a little different than Lyme disease.
From hives to vomiting, heartburn, a cough or shortness of breath - this tick can cause a multitude of issues in your body thanks to what it injects into your system.
People who suffer from the disease may not be able to eat food from mammals, like beef, lamb or pork, and alter the way you live forever.
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This is known as an alpha-gal allergy, as the bug injects a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into your bloodstream, which thinks meat molecules is a threat to your system.
According to the Mayo Clinic, an alpha-gal allergic reaction can start from around two to six hours after you eat something with the alpha-gal molecule, be it red meat, dairy or gelatine.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, which includes things like hives and itching, swelling of the lips, face, throat or eyelids, wheezing or shortness of breath, and stomach pain, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting.
So, what bug is the culprit?
It’s the Lone Star tick, which derives from the United States, but there are other species that can cause the same allergy in Europe and other regions.
Sadly, once you get the allergy, there’s no cure.
The US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that between 2010 and 2022, there were ‘more than 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome identified’ and clinicians aren’t so confident they can diagnose and treat the condition.
“Alpha-gal syndrome is an important emerging public health problem, with potentially severe health impacts that can last a lifetime for some patients,” said Dr Ann Carpenter, epidemiologist and lead author of a paper looking into the condition. “It’s critical for clinicians to be aware of AGS so they can properly evaluate, diagnose, and manage their patients and also educate them on tick-bite prevention to protect patients from developing this allergic condition.”
Alpha-gal is also found in rabbit, venison, products made from mammals, and even some pharmaceuticals.
Shockingly, a person’s reaction can be so severe they go into anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.
If you notice a tick bite or feel sickly after eating meat, it’d be best to see your GP to find out what is going on.