Topline
A tick-derived condition that creates allergic reactions to red meat has affected up to 450,000 Americans since 2010, according to estimations in two new studies from the CDC—which found that hundreds of healthcare providers have not heard of the condition.
The lone star tick is the main tick associated with alpha-gal syndrome. (Photo by Smith … [+]
Key Facts
Alpha-gal syndrome, the allergic condition linked to tick saliva and caused by tick bites, gives people a hypersensitivity to a sugar found within red meat and/or dairy products, resulting in mild symptoms like rashes and nausea or severe symptoms like anaphylaxis in extreme cases.
From 2017 to 2021, more than 90,000 suspected alpha-gal syndrome cases were identified, with suspected cases growing by approximately 15,000 in each year of the study.
Researchers found anywhere from 96,000 to 450,000 Americans may have been affected by alpha-gal syndrome since 2010.
A lead author from one of the papers in the study said the condition was an important emerging public health problem that could possibly “last a lifetime for some patients,” though the Mayo Clinic has said symptoms may lessen or disappear over time with some people able to eat “mammal food products again after 1 to 2 years” if they avoid more tick bites.
The findings on alpha-gal syndrome came from two papers published by the CDC that measured healthcare providers’ knowledge about the condition and how many suspected cases there were across the U.S.
A swath of the suspected cases were identified in southern and eastern states such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, stretching all the way to North Carolina and Virginia.
Surprising Fact
Researchers have said no treatment or cure is currently available for the condition, which is mainly associated with the bite of the lone star tick.
Big Number
42%. That’s the percentage of the 1,500 healthcare providers surveyed for one of the papers who had never heard of alpha-gal syndrome, with fewer than one third knowing how to diagnose the condition.
What To Watch For
Federal advisors have called for an increase in research into treatments for alpha-gal syndrome, which has so far been helped with experimental options yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Key Background
Tick season is currently in full swing, but luckily, most ticks do not cause symptoms as dramatic as those brought on by the lone star tick’s alpha-gal syndrome. Traditionally, tick bites only cause red lumps, swelling and itchiness where bitten. The CDC recommends that before heading outdoors, people use insect repellents, avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and treat their clothing and camping gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, an insecticide. After returning from the outdoors, the CDC advises people to check their clothes, pets and gear for ticks, shower within two hours and check their bodies for ticks. Lyme disease, which can cause rashes, flu-like symptoms and fatigue, is also a risk during tick season. Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC. Early diagnosis paired with antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease can help prevent late Lyme disease, according to the CDC.
Further Reading
Health Care Provider Knowledge Regarding Alpha-gal Syndrome — United States, March–May 2022 (CDC)
It’s Tick Time! What To Know About The Growing Risk Of Infections From Ticks (Forbes)