Allergies from tick bite

[Bowtech Man]

Have any of you ever heard of a allergy from a tick bite called alpha gah? My wife works at a allergy in Chattanooga and had been telling me about this for a little over a year now . After consuming a lot of red meat over a few days I broke out in a rash that covered my body, even Benadryl would barely tame it. So she decided I needed to be tested for this and wouldn't you know it I am. With this being said I have to avoid beef,pork,deer, and lamb for 6 months. My favorite meats but oh well I'll be skinny or die from peanut oil overload from frying up some crappie. Guys if the levels get high enough , it could be life threating so go get tested if you came in contact with several tick bites.

 

[Roost 1]

After 5yrs or not feeling well, my wife's cousin was just diagnoised with this after I suggested she check into it.

 

[BSK]

It was originally called "Mammalian Meat Allergy." Now it is being called "Alpha Gal Allergy," as the allergic reaction is to the carbohydrate Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha gal), most concentrated in mammalian muscle fat. The symptoms are a 4 to 6 hour delayed reaction to eating many different types of red meat, especially beef. Each person affected will display slightly different reactions to different types of meat. Some will have reactions to pork and/or venison, as well as beef, but the most common reactions are to beef. Although a few people have developed the allergy outside of the MidSouth, most who have the allergy develop it after exposure to Lone Star tick bites, and these people are concentrated geographically in an east-west stripe from the Carolinas, through Tennessee and into Arkansas.

Although this allergy was only clinically described for the first time a few years ago, I developed the allergy in 1991. I know of no one who had the allergy earlier than that date. Now, two of my sisters have also tested positive for it. Considering how rare the allergy is, three people in one family suggests there can be a genetic link to who is susceptible to the allergy.

It took me over a year to figure out what I was allergic to. But once I realized it was beef, I didn't touch it for 20 years. Luckily, I was not allergic to pork or venison like some allergy sufferers are. But after 20 years of not touching beef, my symptoms faded. I started testing my reactions to small amounts of free-range beef a few years ago, and other than some gastronomic distress from having lost the bacteria in my gut which help digest beef, I showed no allergic reaction. I can now eat beef without any problems. I've not seen any mention in the scientific literature about ability to overcome the allergy over time, but then so little research has been done on this, and so few people exist who have been diagnosed for more than few years.

here's a link to the Alpha-Gal Allergy Awareness homepage:

http://alpha-gal.org/

 

[Lost Lake]

Have any of you ever heard of a allergy from a tick bite called alpha gah? My wife works at a allergy in Chattanooga and had been telling me about this for a little over a year now . After consuming a lot of red meat over a few days I broke out in a rash that covered my body, even Benadryl would barely tame it. So she decided I needed to be tested for this and wouldn't you know it I am. With this being said I have to avoid beef,pork,deer, and lamb for 6 months. My favorite meats but oh well I'll be skinny or die from peanut oil overload from frying up some crappie. Guys if the levels get high enough , it could be life threating so go get tested if you came in contact with several tick bites.

A friend/client of mine has this allergy. He was diagnosed with it a year ago and it's been life changing for sure. He's severely allergic to red meat, and a few others I'm not sure of. He's had several trips to the ER and his throat swelling shut is what's scared him the most.

He has to be extremely careful when eating out. Any red meat that has been prepared on the same grill or cooking surface without proper cleaning before preparing his food will set off a life threatening reaction.

I feel for all people who suffer from this, as I can only imagine how terrible it is if you really think about it.

 

[Bowtech Man]

I'm curious to see how this all will shake out. My doctor said to be back in 6 months for more blood work and see if I'll be able to resume eating red meat.

 

[ttf909]

A friends son was diagnosed with this recently

 

[8up]

its not uncommon for myself to pull 30-40 ticks a year off me. In the last 10 years I have tested positive for lyme disease and had the 8" bullseye to go with the bite. 3=4 years ago I started running a temp that hit 105 with my wife yelling lets go its almost an hour to the ER. I jumped in a shower instead and my temp came down to 103 but for only about 10 minutes than it was back to 105. The next day the Doctor said I had tested positive for rocky mountain spotted fever. Now a couple 2-3 times a year a run a fever and have to switch the sheets every day do to sweat.

Now I see this post and think great another tick borne illness. There was another one identified last year that can kill you pretty quick its name is the Bourbon virus.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/tick-borne-bourbon-virus-blamed-kansas-mans-death/story?id=27764076

 

[deerchaser007]

Hey guys or gals here that have this or been diagnosed with it in past, can y'all please, PLEASE give me more info on your symptoms and how you were feeling, did random bloodtest show anything abnormal? I read the link BSK put up and am going to read again, but would like your personal symptoms and stories on how you were feeling and what lead you to get that test?

Reason being, I have been breaking out in severe hives and moderate hives at different times since august. Stomach pain is very bad at times, I have had no swelling of lips nor tongue to my knowledge, but also have intense itching of the palms and soles of feet and other parts of body and I get these really bad passing out sensations, to the point that I fog completely out. My bloodtest show very high calcium levels, and low D levels, and increased WBC counts over normal range. I have been run thru the mill the past 5 to 6 months, from scans, to colonoscopy, 20 plus bloodtest, blood specialist, endocrinologist, etc. I still have no answers, and now will have to go thru a sleep study and next is scanning my head.
Just got off phone with my wife and Wednesday night I had minute steak, by Thursday I was sick as a dog and Thursday night I had hives on me big as half dollars, Friday I was no better and was having passing out sensations terrible, I left work Friday night with passing out sensation, dizziness, high BP, and my speech was slurry. Christmas eve I had steak, hour or so after eating I was having intense stomach pains. We have looked back at a couple other situations and may be linked to red meat, maybe. ALSO, I work in a yogurt factory, and can tell ya that protein whey is part of the yogurt, and at times I sensory test for taste and wonder if this would cause some of the milder outbreaks. Does any of this match what y'all experienced? Greatly appreciate input.

BTW, I don't remember removing any ticks from me over the summer nor spring turkey season, would they have to be stuck and removed?

 

[BSK]

deerchaser007,

The only way to know if you have Alpha Gal Allergy is to have the blood test.

However, the most common symptoms are hives, severe itching, and/or closing of airways 4-6 hours after eating meat. And the delay for each person is usually like clock-work--exactly the same number of hours each time. In fact, the 4+ hour delayed reaction is THE key indicator of the allergy. Reactions get worse with each encounter. Some people (like me) also experience severe abdominal pain that comes in waves. Symptoms usually last 6 to 12 hours and are then completely gone until the next reaction (although some report diarrhea for a day afterwards).

 

[deerchaser007]

deerchaser007,

The only way to know if you have Alpha Gal Allergy is to have the blood test.

However, the most common symptoms are hives, severe itching, and/or closing of airways 4-6 hours after eating meat. And the delay for each person is usually like clock-work--exactly the same number of hours each time. In fact, the 4+ hour delayed reaction is THE key indicator of the allergy. Reactions get worse with each encounter. Some people (like me) also experience severe abdominal pain that comes in waves. Symptoms usually last 6 to 12 hours and are then completely gone until the next reaction (although some report diarrhea for a day afterwards).

THANKS, after reading the site again and seeing your response I'm thinking I really need to at least rule this out for what has been going on with me. I may have other stuff going on also, but heck, they can't find nothing else at this point.

 

[Boone 58]

Dang, every time I have some mysterious issues over the last 10 years I always instruct my Dr. to look for lyme disease because I am exposed to hundreds of ticks per season.....and this past one was my worst ever!!!!! never heard of this, thanks for sharing!!

 

[LY]

Saw an interview with a guy who had it about a year ago in Chattanooga. The guy said giving up meat was surprisingly easy. He said something about the allergic reactions actually made him not desire meat and therefore he didn't even miss it.

I pull several hundred off a year going on 20+ years working, but so far so good.

 

[7mm08]

Lonestar tick is the carrier and they are in this area.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/tic ... -red-meat/

 

[BSK]

Saw an interview with a guy who had it about a year ago in Chattanooga. The guy said giving up meat was surprisingly easy. He said something about the allergic reactions actually made him not desire meat and therefore he didn't even miss it.

Thankfully, I've never been a "steak guy." Could care less if I ever have a steak again. But giving up fast-food hamburgers was rough! In fact, fast-food hamburgers was how I discovered what was going on. I was having increasingly violent allergic reactions every Friday evening right about dinner time. I finally starting putting two and two together. Every Friday I went out to lunch at a particular burger joint. Six hours later--right about dinner time--I was having these violent reactions.

The crazy thing is, even after 20 years of having to order chicken or fish every time I went out to eat, and truly missing red meat dishes, after 3 or 4 years of finally being able to eat anything I want I still tend to order chicken or fish!

 

[BSK]

One suggestion for those who have developed Alpha Gal Allergy, or think they might have it, look at the fat content of the meat you're eating. Comparing notes with the others in my family who have the allergy--and well as scientific research into the illness--suggests mammal fat is the real culprit. I would highly recommend trying the leanest meats you can find. Venison that has had all external fat removed, and no other fats added, is probably going to be your best bet.

 

[Oak]

Although I've never been officially diagnosed, I knew that this is what I've had for many years. Similar to BSK, I've been dealing with it since at least 1990-91. I've always loved the outdoors and typically get several tick bites every year. It took several years for me to learn what was causing the reaction. I usually had severe itching hives and abdominal pain, usually accompanied by diarrhea. The hives for me typically appeared on: My scalp, top of feet and hands, and anywhere there was a bend (i.e. behind my knees, crook of elbow, etc.). In more severe cases, it would progress into my airway and I had difficulty breathing. I dared not scratch the hives or cough as it would make them even worse. After a few years, I could tell early when a reaction was coming on and I would immediately take a benadryl or other antihistamine.

Eating beef all my life, it never registered that it was actually causing the problem and it made it difficult to figure out. I just knew it was detergent, animals or something else. The telltale sign that it was not a normal allergy was that I never had any issues until several hours later, which usually ended up being in the evening or late at night.

Anyhow, some of the keys for me is to: 1) Not eat beef, 2) If I do want a little beef, I watch the fat content (I cannot even think about eating those cheap frozen hamburgers that everyone likes to grill.) If I do eat beef, I don't eat much and I definitely don't eat it several days in a row. FYI... I've never had any issued with pork or venison, just beef.

I still have a reaction from time to time, but it does seem that my condition has improved some, mainly by avoiding as many tick bites I think and of course not eating a lot of beef.

 

[WGK]

My son in law has this allergy. He was bitten by the tick in the spring of 2012 in McMinn Co.

 

[Gravey]

I know a guy that ended up at the hospital a couole of times before figuring out it was the mammallion meat allergy. My understanding is he cannot eat any meat from an animal that nurses its young.

 

[bullet96]

My 11 yr old son was diagnosed with this a couple of months ago. His allergist told us not to let him eat any mammal, deer, beef, pork etc. He has to be tested in 6 months to see if the levels are coming down. Hard to believe a tick can cause this.