Have you been struggling with gastrointestinal (GI) issues? Does your stomach ache? Have you been throwing up or experiencing diarrhea—but you’re not quite sure why? Well, you might have alpha-gal syndrome, a serious food allergy to red meat and other products sourced from mammals.

If you’ve eaten red meat in the past with no issues, but are now showing signs of alpha-gal syndrome, it could mean that you’ve been bitten by an infected tick. Cara Murez of HealthDay News reports that alpha-gal is a sugar molecule in most mammals. Usually, most people have no problem digesting this. But if an infected tick releases alpha-gal into your body, it triggers an immune reaction. Suddenly, whenever you ingest products containing alpha-gal, you experience a severe and inexplicable reaction. 

Recently, a clinical practice update was published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology to urge gastroenterologists to consider alpha-gal syndrome when patients are presenting with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Alpha-gal syndrome should still be considered even if patients cannot remember being bitten by a tick, especially since some ticks and bites are so small. Patients with nonspecific symptoms should undergo an alpha-gal IgE test, as well as dietary changes, to aid in diagnosis.

By publishing this clinical practice update, the authors hope that gastroenterologists will be better prepared to identify this condition and aid patients in management. 

What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

The Lone Star tick, most active between the months of April-September, is the most common culprit when it comes to spreading alpha-gal syndrome. Symptoms of this rare food allergy often occur within 3-6 hours of exposure to red meat or other triggering products; for example, some individuals may also experience a reaction to gelatin or dairy products. Getting bitten more than once may also cause worsening reactions. Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome may include: 

• Sneezing
• Coughing or wheezing
• Swelling of the face, lips, and throat
• Heartburn or indigestion 
• Hives or an itchy rash 
• Headaches
• Dizziness or faintness
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

People with alpha-gal syndrome must make dietary changes to avoid triggers.