Alpha Gal Syndrome: Allergy To Red Meat
Alpha gal syndrome is an allergy to red meat, as well as to other foods of animal origin. In this case the onset of the disease does not occur spontaneously or due to genetic alterations, but is motivated by the bite of an insect. In particular, it seems that the responsible is some kind of tick.
The bite triggers an autoimmune reaction that results in alpha gal syndrome. Once you contract the syndrome, you will no longer be able to eat red meat due to the negative side effects that can occur.
Are there any risk factors for alpha gal syndrome?
Most cases of alpha gal syndrome have occurred in the United States, particularly in the Southeastern region. In this area it was the bite of a tick that triggered the infection.
However, other cases have been detected in different areas of the country, but also in Europe and Asia. It seems that the main risk factor is belonging to a geographic region with a strong presence of ticks.
Likewise, anaphylactic shock after taking certain products increases the chances of developing the disease. Regardless, the solution is to avoid exposure to the tick bite.
According to a study published in Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskund and, in the absence of a bite, the syndrome does not manifest itself.
What are the symptoms of alpha gal syndrome?
Symptoms of alpha gal syndrome are the same as any other food allergy, although they typically take longer to manifest. The reaction starts 3 hours after taking red meat and the most frequent symptoms are:
- Stomach pain and diarrhea.
- Frequent sneezing.
- Urticaria with skin lesions.
- Headache.
- Anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylactic shock requires specialist medical attention. Otherwise, it puts the person’s life at risk, as evidenced by research published in the journal Vnitr Lekarstvi . Among other things, the risk is greater if the patient has already had anaphylactic shock in the past after ingesting another product.
When to see the doctor?
It is important to go to the doctor as soon as possible if you start to notice recurring and unpleasant reactions after consuming red meat or derivatives.
He will perform diagnostic tests to identify allergy and alpha-gal syndrome. If you have the following symptoms, you should go to the emergency room immediately:
- Respiratory problems.
- Accelerated heartbeat.
- Dizziness.
- Inability to swallow.
The diagnosis
To diagnose red meat allergy, you need to know the patient’s medical history. In parallel, it will also be useful to perform a physical examination.
A red meat tolerance test with immunoglobulin measurement may also be needed. This has proven to be the most effective method of detecting allergy, although associating it with alpha gal syndrome will help pinpoint the symptoms of a tick bite.
Treatment and prevention of alpha gal syndrome
There is only one way to prevent alpha gal syndrome, and that is to avoid the areas where ticks are concentrated. In case this is impossible, it is advisable to resort to repellents in order to avoid bites. Particular care should be taken if you live in a house with a garden in a region where there are many ticks.
As for the treatment, unfortunately there is still no cure. You could avoid eating red meat by completely eliminating it from your diet. However, be aware that it will need to be replaced by other high-protein foods, such as eggs.
Alpha gal syndrome: a rare disease
Although it is a very serious problem affecting eating habits, alpha gal syndrome is rare. Its incidence depends a lot on the geographical area of residence, specifically living in some areas of the United States is considered a risk factor.
However, keep in mind that there are some precautions you can take to avoid getting bitten by ticks. This will hinder the onset of the disease.
Do not forget that once the syndrome appears there is no cure, so the only thing to do in these cases is to eliminate red meat and its derivatives from the diet.
It will be essential to adapt the diet to avoid protein deficiencies that are harmful to health, for example by increasing the intake of eggs and white meat.
