The "Tick Spit Can Cause Food Allergies" Story

It was an ordinary day.  And, if you thought a few of my latest stories were scary...wait until you read today's story!  All began with the headline in my morning newspaper that read "Tick spit can cause food allergy!"  Seems that there are more than 100,000 people in the United States that have become allergic to red meat since 2010 because of a weird syndrome triggered by tick bites, according to a government report recently released.  But health officials believe that many more have the condition and don't realize it.  But...seems that a second report estimated as many as 450,000 Americans have developed the allergy.  That would make it the 10th most common food allergy in the United States.  Health officials, as of now, are not aware of any deaths, but many people with the allergy have described it as bewildering and terrifying.  One person with the allergy said that they never connected it with any food since it was hours after eating that it occurred.  The reaction called alpha-gal syndrome, occurs when an infected person eats beef, pork, venison or other meat from mammals or ingests milk, gelatin or other mammal products.  It is not caused by a germ but by a sugar, alpha-gal, ...and tick spit!  When the sugar enters the body through the skin, it triggers an immune response and can lead to a severe allergic reaction.  Scientists  have seen the same reaction in patients taking a cancer drug that was made in mouse cells containing the alpha-gal sugar.  In 2011 researchers first reported that it could be spread through tick bites, also.  They tied it to the lone star tick, which despite its Texas-themed name is most common in the eastern and southern USA.  One study examined US test results from 2017-2022 and noted the number of people testing positive rose from 13,000 in 2017 to 19,000 in 2022.  Experts say cases may be up for a variety of reasons, including lone star ticks being suspected more and more and more doctors ordering tests for it.  A second study was a survey last year of 1,500 U.S. primary care doctors and health professional.  The survey found nearly half had never heard of alpha-gal syndrome, and only 5% said they felt very confident they could diagnose it.  That information was used to estimate the number of people with the allergy at 450,000.  Those with the syndrome can experience symptoms including hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe stomach pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and swelling of the lip, throat, tongue or eye lids.  Some patients have only stomach symptoms, and the American Gastroenterological Association says people with unexplained diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain should be tested for the syndrome.  Doctors counseled people with the allergy to change their diet, carry epinephrine and avoid tick bites.  The allergy can fade in some people, but it is best to avoid being re-bitten.  The tick bites are central to this since they perpetuate the allergy.    It is also best to avoid eating red meat and dairy products.  Try to make sure you read packaged food labels and avoid foods that could trigger a reaction.  Just so you know...not all doctors are knowledgable about this.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.