How TICK BITES are now making people allergic to red meat and even toothpaste… Hundreds of thousands are testing positive for this frightening new allergy – here are the signs to watch out for

How TICK BITES are now making people allergic to red meat and even toothpaste… Hundreds of thousands are testing positive for this frightening new allergy – here are the signs to watch out for

Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Val’s Story

Val Smith, a 74-year-old former⁣ family support worker, found herself⁣ wrestling with a perplexing medical mystery.During ‍a river cruise in France in‌ 2018, she woke up in the early hours plagued by intense ​itching that spread across her arms, torso, and legs. “I was in agony,” she recalls. This wasn’t an isolated incident. ⁣In the weeks prior, ⁣Val had experienced similar episodes after going to bed feeling unwell, only to wake up covered‌ in hives and welts. It was after the third episode during the cruise that Val noticed a pattern: each time,she had eaten beef the night before. A web search led ⁣her to information about alpha-gal syndrome,⁤ a condition triggered by tick bites that⁣ causes an allergy ⁤to red meat. She ​immediately thought back to a tick bite she had received seven years earlier.

Tick Bite Allergy: Understanding⁤ Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is ​an increasingly recognized ⁢allergy triggered by ‌a tick bite. While the exact number of cases is uncertain, the Centers for Disease control and⁢ Prevention reported over 110,000 positive antibody tests for alpha-gal in july, suggesting the ​true number could be closer to 500,000. Cases are on the rise, particularly in the southern ⁤and southeastern United States where the Lone Star tick, the primary transmitter of alpha-gal to humans, is ‌prevalent. AGS symptoms often ​appear four to six weeks after a tick bite,‌ though in some cases, the onset can be delayed for months. A distinguishing feature of this allergy is the delayed reaction to red meat ⁣consumption, which can take‌ up to four to six hours, compared to‌ the typical⁤ one-hour window for other food allergies.
How TICK BITES are now making people allergic to red meat and even toothpaste… Hundreds of thousands are testing positive for this frightening new allergy – here are the signs to watch out for
Alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in mammal meat, organs, and even milk and ​gelatin, triggers this allergic reaction. As professor Hasan ​Arshad, chair in Allergy and clinical Immunology at ⁣the University of Southampton explains, “Hence, drugs and vaccines,⁣ and even sweets that have mammalian ‌cells/tissues or even a minor quantity of gelatin can occasionally cause ​a ‍reaction.” Interestingly, individuals with blood type‍ A​ and O appear to ⁣be⁣ at higher risk of developing AGS, suggesting⁤ a possible link ⁣between blood type and the allergy’s development.

Symptoms and ⁢Diagnosis

AGS symptoms range ‍from mild, such as rashes and swelling, to severe, including difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis. “It’s entirely possible that you could have sensitization to alpha-gal and not react or not have any clinical manifestations,”** says Professor Arshad. Diagnosis can be challenging, as AGS is relatively uncommon and often misdiagnosed.

“It’s probably more common than we think as the diagnosis is frequently enough missed, but specialists are seeing more cases,”

Delays in⁢ diagnosis ​can occur due to the unusual symptom‌ timeline and ⁢lack of awareness among healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for increased understanding and education regarding this ⁢emerging allergy.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a relatively‍ new and ⁤perplexing allergy that has recently emerged ⁢in the United Kingdom. This condition,triggered by tick bites,can​ cause a delayed allergic reaction to red meat.

Val, a traveler who unknowingly contracted​ AGS after a cruise, initially ⁢dismissed her symptoms as a simple heat rash. It⁤ wasn’t untill later, upon experiencing worsening reactions to even small amounts of meat, that she realized something more serious was happening.

“It was only when I got home I realised I should have mentioned ⁤AGS so I called and asked​ if she’d heard of it,” Val explained.

Initially, ⁢her doctor was unaware of ​the condition’s presence ⁤in the UK, highlighting the lack of awareness surrounding AGS. However, ⁢research confirms that while first identified in the US in 2002, AGS has since been detected in numerous countries, including the UK.

Dr. Whyte, an expert on the condition, clarifies that “While Lone‍ Star ticks are mostly responsible for AGS in North and Central America, other ​species can be involved in other parts of the ⁢world.”

Val’s ⁤journey towards diagnosis involved persistent efforts. After experiencing increasingly severe​ skin ⁢reactions to pork, sausages, and bacon, she insisted on seeing an allergy specialist in 2018. A blood test revealed a Grade 4 AGS diagnosis, indicating a ⁤strong positive reaction.

“That explained why I reacted so badly every time,” Val shared.

following her diagnosis, Val was referred to the immunology department at her local ​hospital. There, she ‍was warned about the potential for worsening reactions and prescribed an EpiPen as a safety measure.

Val was instructed to avoid ‍all red meat, ⁢including not just obvious sources but also⁢ lesser-known ⁤ingredients like gelatin and fat. This meant carefully scrutinizing food labels for hidden mammalian ingredients‌ in sweets,desserts,toothpaste,and even ​some vaccines.

Professor Arshad, ‍a⁢ leading authority on AGS, emphasizes that “There is no ‌cure for alpha-gal syndrome so people affected need to avoid meat strictly.” He further explains that managing the condition can be challenging due to the potential for reactions even from small amounts of meat or inhalation of cooking fumes

Val ‍expresses the⁣ difficulties ‍she faces, particularly at buffets where cross-contamination is a concern. ​”It’s very hard at hotel buffets as there can be cross-contamination from spoons and utensils and I have to check the food labels on everything.”

“I thought the idea‍ of a tick causing all this was ridiculous and that I was going⁢ mad.⁤ I hope ⁢my story raises awareness that AGS is in ⁢the ‌UK.”


##⁤ ⁤Unmasking teh Mystery: An Interview wiht Val Smith about Alpha-Gal ⁣Syndrome



**Interviewer:** ⁣Welcome, Val. Thank you for taking the time to‌ speak with us about your experience with Alpha-Gal ⁤Syndrome (AGS).



**Val:** It’s my pleasure. If sharing my story helps raise awareness about this complex ​and often misdiagnosed allergy, I’m happy to contribute.



**Interviewer:** You mentioned first noticing⁤ symptoms while on a river cruise in ⁣France. ‌Can you​ tell us ‌more about⁤ that experience ​and how you connected it to AGS?



**Val:** It was a truly bewildering experience.‌ I woke up ⁣in the middle of the night with intense itching that ⁣spread across my body. This had happened a couple of ‍times before, ​always after eating ⁤beef. On the cruise,I did some research online ​and stumbled upon data ‌about AGS. I recalled being bitten by a tick seven years prior. It all started to click⁣ into place.



**Interviewer:** Can you describe⁢ what a typical reaction to red meat feels like‍ for you?



**Val:** The strangest part is the delayed reaction. It can be four to six hours after eating beef before⁤ I experience symptoms. It often starts with itching, then ⁣hives and⁣ welts develop. In severe​ cases, it can make breathing challenging.Knowing that the next bite of steak coudl​ trigger these symptoms⁤ led me to fully eliminate red meat from my diet.



**Interviewer:** ​How ⁤difficult ‍was it to get a proper ⁣diagnosis?



**Val:** It was a⁢ long and⁢ frustrating process. Many medical professionals were unfamiliar with AGS. I had to do a lot of⁤ research and advocate for myself ⁣to get the‌ proper testing.



**interviewer:** what advice would you give to others who might be experiencing similar symptoms and‍ suspect they might have AGS?



**Val:** Don’t dismiss⁢ your symptoms. Keep a detailed food diary and ⁤track your reactions. Find a doctor who is ‍knowledgeable about AGS or is willing to learn more about it. You are not alone in ‍this.



**Interviewer:** Thank you, ​val, ⁣for sharing your story and insights. Hopefully,⁤ your experience will help others recognize⁤ and manage⁤ this​ often overlooked allergy.



**Val:** It’s my⁢ hope that ‌by ‍talking about AGS openly,‌ we can raise awareness, improve diagnosis, ‌and ultimately help others⁤ navigate⁣ this challenging condition.

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