Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Management of Alpha-gal Syndrome – Alpha-gal Information

  https://alphagalinformation.org/management-of-ags/

  Currently, there is no cure or treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. People with AGS need to avoid foods and other products that contain alpha-gal in order to prevent allergic reactions. […] Alpha-gal syndrome can be prevented by avoiding tick bites. In the U.S., you need to avoid the bite of the Lone Star Tick and possibly other species of ticks. […] It is not enough to do tick checks and remove ticks promptly. Once the tick has bitten you and has ejected its saliva into the bite, you are at risk of developing AGS. […] If a tick does bite you, it is important to remove it correctly. If you remove it the wrong way, it may eject more of its saliva into the bite. This could increase your chances of developing AGS and other tick-borne illnesses.

• #2 Health: Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention Division: Alpha-gal Syndrome

  https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/zoonotic-and-vectorborne-epidemiology-entomology/vector-borne-diseases/alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Preventing tick bites is important and may reduce your chances of developing AGS or other tick-borne illnesses. […] Visit our tick-bite prevention page for helpful tips on how you can stay safe from ticks.

• #3 What Health Officials Should Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome | ASTHO

  https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/what-health-officials-should-know-about-alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sometimes called red meat allergy, is an emerging allergic condition mainly caused by the bite of a lone star tick and is characterized by an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to alpha-gal. […] To prepare for increasing cases of AGS, health officials should consider critical infrastructure needs for tick surveillance and control. […] The key to reducing the impact of AGS is prevention—avoiding tick bites in the first place. […] Strategies for surveillance and control of ticks and prevention of tick bites include: Educate communities on ways to prevent tickborne diseases. […] There is a critical need for public health activities to prevent and control tickborne diseases like community education around tick bite prevention, health care provider education for timely diagnosis and allergic condition management, and improved tick surveillance. […] Health agencies have an important role in educating and collaborating with local programs, providers, and allergists to develop and implement strategies to help protect people from tickborne diseases. […] No treatment or cure is currently available—prevent tick bites to prevent AGS.

• #4 Research ties bites from 2 more types of ticks to red meat allergy | CIDRAP

  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/tick-borne-disease/research-ties-bites-2-more-types-ticks-red-meat-allergy

  Two Emerging Infectious Diseases studies link bites from black-legged (deer) and western black-legged ticks to potentially life-threatening alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), or red meat allergy. […] Blood tests revealed a serum alpha-galspecific IgE level above the upper limit of detection, and the woman’s clinician recommended avoiding beef, lamb, and pork. […] Public health practitioners across the United States should continue efforts focused on tick bite prevention, healthcare provider education, and improved tick and tickborne disease surveillance. […] The woman visited an allergist, who detected elevated alpha-gal IgE levels, diagnosed AGS, told her to avoid eating mammalian meat, and cautioned her about consuming milk and gelatin. […] „Public health practitioners across the United States should continue efforts focused on tick bite prevention, healthcare provider education, and improved tick and tickborne disease surveillance.”

• #5

  https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-induced-red-meat-allergy-may-caused-species-rcna197172

  For this reason, it’s important to take precautions to avoid tick bites. This includes using bug repellant and wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks when outdoors during tick season, which typically begins in April. If you’ve been in wooded areas or tall grass, shower off and do a tick check when you get home. […] The most important thing is preventing the tick bite altogether, Salzer said.

• #6 About Alpha-gal Syndrome | Alpha-gal Syndrome | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html

  Preventing tick bites is important and may reduce your chances of developing AGS or other illnesses. […] Before you go outdoors: Avoid grassy, brushy, and wooded areas where ticks may be found. […] Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. […] After you come indoors: Check your clothing for ticks. […] If you see an attached tick, remove it immediately. […] Prevent tick bites. New tick bites may reactivate allergic reactions to alpha-gal.

• #7 Alpha-gal Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24493-alpha-gal-syndrome

  The most effective way to avoid getting AGS and other tick-borne illnesses is to prevent tick bites. The CDC recommends that you: […] Avoid ticks: Know where they live and dont go off the trails in wooded and grassy areas. […] Cover up: Wear long-sleeved clothing. Tuck socks into your shoes or pants and use a hat and gloves when possible. […] Use insect repellents: Use the U.S. Environmental Protection Approved (EPA)-approved insect repellents. Apply permethrin to clothing or buy pretreated clothing. […] Do a tick check: Examine yourself and your pets for ticks after being outdoors. Its also helpful to take a shower. […] Remove ticks immediately: Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth. Pull it out carefully without crushing it. Apply antiseptic to the area. […] Most people with alpha-gal syndrome need to avoid red meat in foods and other products. Everyone reacts differently to ingredients containing alpha-gal. Talk to your healthcare provider or allergist.

• #8 Tick-borne red meat allergy could be spreading to more regions in US

  https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/04/02/ticks-red-meat-allergy-alpha-gal-syndrome/82703186007/

  If you expect to be in an area where ticks live, such a backyard, park or campsite, be extra careful when venturing outside. […] Ticks can be a year-round annoyance, but they are most active in the warmer months of April through September.

• #9 Alpha-Gal Syndrome: How A Tick’s Saliva Can Cause a Lifelong Red Meat Allergy

  https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/mas/news/alpha-gal-syndrome-how-a-tick-s-saliva-can-cause-a-lifelong-red-meat-allergy-2001653

  Though we can’t predict who will develop red meat allergy following a lone star tick bite, there are steps everybody can take to lower their risk of getting bitten by a tick: […] Wear long pants and long sleeves when going outdoors, particularly in wooded areas or areas with tall grass. Tuck pants into socks, and the shirt into pants for an extra layer of protection. […] Use insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon or eucalyptus leaves. […] Check for ticks at home, and remove any ticks immediately. Consider saving the tick and giving it to the doctor for analysis. […] If bitten, don’t scratch. Some evidence suggests that people who scratch a tick bite are more likely to develop alpha-gal syndrome than those who don’t scratch. […] Remember, not everyone who gets bitten by a lone star tick will develop red meat allergy, and taking some preventive steps can help avoid tick bites.

• #10 Alpha-gal syndrome – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608

  Avoid tick bites to prevent alpha-gal syndrome. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when you’re in wooded, grassy areas. Use bug spray too. Check your whole body for ticks after you spend time outside. […] The best way to prevent alpha-gal syndrome is to avoid areas where ticks live. Be careful in wooded, bushy areas with long grass. You can lower your risk of getting alpha-gal syndrome by following some simple tips: […] Cover up. Dress to protect yourself when you’re in wooded or grassy areas. Wear shoes, long pants tucked into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. Also try to stick to trails and avoid walking through low bushes and long grass. If you have a dog, keep it on a leash too. […] Use bug spray. Apply insect repellent with a 20% or higher concentration of the ingredient DEET to your skin. If you’re a parent, put the bug spray on your children. Avoid their hands, eyes and mouths. Keep in mind that chemical repellents can be toxic, so follow directions carefully. Apply products with the ingredient permethrin to clothing, or buy pre-treated clothing.

• #11 Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Meat Allergy – Allergy & Asthma Network

  https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/food-allergies/alpha-gal-syndrome-and-meat-allergy/

  Alpha-gal syndrome prevention […] The best thing you can do to avoid AGS is prevent tick bites. Here are some strategies to avoid tick bites: […] Know your environment. Do your best to avoid ticks. They like bushy, grassy and wooded areas. If you frequent these areas in your yard, on walks or hikes, or through your work, you are at higher risk for tick bites. […] Cover your skin. Wear long sleeves and pants so you dont have exposed skin. To be extra cautious, tuck your socks onto your pants. […] Tick proof your clothing and gear. Products with 0.5% permethrin can be used to pre-treat clothing and gear. […] Use EPA-recommended insect repellents or a bug spray. […] Do a regular tick check. After being outside, check yourself and your pets for ticks particularly in dark crevices such as behind ears, in the belly button, in underarms, and the groin.

• #12 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Article | The United States Army

  https://www.army.mil/article/276333/military_health_experts_warn_about_potentially_life_threatening_meat_allergy_from_tick_bite

  Ticks can transmit AGS as well as many other serious diseases such as Lyme disease, so avoiding tick bites, or at least quickly identifying ticks on you and removing them before they can transmit a disease, should be everyone’s goal. […] The Military Health Systems tick-borne illness website offers tips for avoiding tick-borne diseases, including: Avoid tick habitats. Avoid tall grasses, brushy and wooded areas; stay in the middle of trails. Take steps to prevent ticks on your pets and in your yard. […] Dress to protect yourself. Wear hats, long sleeves, and pants tucked into socks or boots. Wear light colors to help spot ticks. Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear or buy pre-treated wear (permethrin is not to be put directly on skin). […] Check yourself. Once inside, do a tick check of clothing, gear, and your body (in and around hair and ears, under the arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, back of the knees). Shower right away, as the flow of water can help dislodge and remove ticks that haven’t latched on yet.

• #13 Alpha-gal Syndrome Support | TBC United | Medical Guidance & Training

  https://www.tbcunited.org/tick-borne-diseases/alphagal-syndrome/

  The best way to prevent Alpha-gal Syndrome is to avoid areas of tick-infested habitats. In particular, ticks are found anywhere deer live, run, sleep, and feed. Ticks are also found in wooded, bushy areas. Use the following simple precautions: […] For People: Use Repellents. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. Cover Up. Wear long, light-colored pants tucked into socks. Long-sleeved, light-colored shirts, a hat, and gloves. Avoid grasses and leaf litter whenever possible. Treat Clothing and Gear with repellent such as undecanone, permethrin or buy pre-treated items. Perform Daily Tick Checks. Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks. Dry your clothes on high for 15 minutes after being outdoors in areas known for presence of ticks. […] For Pets: Use Tick-Prevention. Talk to your veterinarian about recommended products. Perform Daily Tick Checks, especially after being outdoors. Remove ticks on your pet immediately. Avoid direct contact with your skin. […] For Property: Tick-proof Your Yard. Clear brush and leaves where ticks live. Keep woodpiles in sunny areas. Use a yard spray to kill and repel ticks.

• #14 Alpha-gal syndrome: How a tick bite can make you allergic to meat | Prevention | UT Southwestern Medical Center

  https://utswmed.org/medblog/meat-allergy-alpha-gal-tick-bite/

  Preventing tick bites is the most important thing you can do to avoid alpha-gal syndrome, as well as other tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease. […] Follow these simple tips to reduce your risk of tick bites: […] Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. […] Treat your clothing (not your skin) with permethrin spray to repel insects. […] Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants when you walk in grassy or wooded areas. […] Stick to trails and avoid walking through low bushes and long grass. […] Check yourself, your kids, and your pets for ticks when returning from the outdoors and ask for help to examine places you can’t see or touch, such as your back. […] If you see a tick, remove it immediately and wash the area thoroughly. […] Tick-proof your yard by clearing brush and leaves. […] As the lone star tick continues to expand its range across the country, we’re likely to see more cases of alpha-gal syndrome. Increased awareness and knowledge of the condition will be crucial to making sure patients get a prompt diagnosis and proper treatment for their symptoms.

• #15 Alpha-Gal Allergy | DEET

  https://www.repellentinfo.org/education/ticks/alpha-gal-allergy

  Prevention of tick bites is important in helping to reduce the chances of developing AGS and in recovering from it should it occur. While outdoors, avoid wooded areas with dense shrubs and leaf litter. […] Dress appropriately and use repellents with active ingredients, such as DEET, that are registered by the EPA for efficacy against ticks. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that repellent products containing up to 30% DEET are appropriate for children over two months of age.

• #16 Alpha-gal syndrome – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608

  Do your best to tick-proof your yard. Clear brush and leaves where ticks live. Keep woodpiles in sunny areas. […] Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. Be watchful after you spend time in wooded or grassy areas. […] It’s helpful to shower as soon as you come indoors. Ticks often stay on your skin for hours before they attach themselves. Shower and use a washcloth to try to remove any ticks. […] Remove a tick with tweezers as soon as possible. Gently grasp the tick near its head or mouth. Don’t squeeze or crush the tick. Pull it off with a careful, steady grip. Once you’ve removed the entire tick, throw it out. Put on an antiseptic where it bit you. That can help prevent an illness.

• #17

  https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a44193753/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-borne-illnesses/

  Learn how you can protect yourself against biting ticks. […] How to protect against alpha-gal syndrome and tick bites […] No matter where you live, follow these rules of the great outdoors: Know where ticks hang out (tall grass, wooded areas). Wear light-colored clothing so they’re easy to spot, and tuck pants into boots. Use a lint roller on your clothes when you get home. Check skin, especially armpits, groin, breasts, and folds. Shower immediately and watch for rashes.

• #18 Alpha-gal syndrome – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_syndrome

  Tick bites can be prevented by treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin and avoiding areas inhabited by ticks. Other recommendations are to conduct tick checks after coming inside, remove outdoor clothing articles and run them in a dryer on high heat to kill undetected ticks. Taking a shower or bath promptly can aid in detecting ticks on the skin. […] Debate exists around the best method of tick removal. Low-quality evidence favors mechanical techniques over chemical treatments such as gasoline, petroleum jelly, or clear fingernail polish. Mechanical techniques involve pulling with forceps or commercial devices. Pulling is slightly favored over rotation with forceps to remove ticks.

• #19 Alpha-Gal Allergy: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, Treatment

  https://www.verywellhealth.com/alpha-gal-allergy-5217723

  The main prevention strategy for avoiding alpha-gal allergy is to avoid tick bites. […] There are some simple strategies for trying to avoid tick bites when outside: Use insect repellant. Treat clothing or camping gear with 0.5% permethrin. Try to walk in the center of walking trails. Where possible, avoid areas that are wooded or brushy or that contain a lot of litter from leaves and grass. […] Checking the body for ticks after being outside is another important prevention strategy. This can involve standing in front of a mirror or using a handheld mirror to search for ticks. Remember to check: The belly button, Around the ears, Under the arms, Behind the knees, In the hair, Between legs. […] The most effective method of preventing alpha-gal allergy is to avoid tick bites.

• #20 How to Prevent Alpha Gal Syndrome | Langford Allergy

  https://www.langfordallergy.com/how-to-prevent-alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Since alpha gal syndrome is directly related to tick bites, you must prioritize protecting yourself against ticks while you are outdoors. […] If you notice a tick on your body, it is important to remove the tick with tweezers and steady pressure. Do not twist or crush the body. Keep the tick in a bag, if possible, and get it tested to see if it had any diseases like Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and others.

• #21 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Article | The United States Army

  https://www.army.mil/article/276333/military_health_experts_warn_about_potentially_life_threatening_meat_allergy_from_tick_bite

  Remove ticks quickly. Immediately remove any tick found embedded. Use tweezers. Do not use heat, nail polish, or petroleum jelly to try to make a tick detach. […] Submit a tick removed from a human for testing. The Department of Defense MilTICK program allows active duty service members, DOD beneficiaries, contractors, and civilians, to submit their ticks for free testing. Although MilTICK doesn’t currently test for tick AGS, the tick submitted for testing could be a carrier for another condition, such as Lyme disease. […] Doctors and patients should be familiar with AGS and consider the possibility of this condition, particularly if there is known or possible past tick exposure. […] A health care provider will need to review your history of symptoms and any past tick exposure and conduct the alpha-gal antibodies blood test. An allergy skin test may also be performed. The provider may refer you to an allergist or immunologist.

• #22 Alpha-gal syndrome // Middlesex Health

  https://middlesexhealth.org/learning-center/diseases-and-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome

  Do your best to tick-proof your yard. Clear brush and leaves where ticks live. Keep woodpiles in sunny areas. […] Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. Be watchful after you spend time in wooded or grassy areas. […] It’s helpful to shower as soon as you come indoors. Ticks often stay on your skin for hours before they attach themselves. Shower and use a washcloth to try to remove any ticks. […] Remove a tick with tweezers as soon as possible. Gently grasp the tick near its head or mouth. Don’t squeeze or crush the tick. Pull it off with a careful, steady grip. Once you’ve removed the entire tick, throw it out. Put on an antiseptic where it bit you. That can help prevent an illness.

• #23 Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Meat Allergy – Allergy & Asthma Network

  https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/food-allergies/alpha-gal-syndrome-and-meat-allergy/

  Shower and wash your clothes after being outside. […] Keep your pets indoors and away from wooded areas as much as possible during tick season. Pets can bring ticks into your house. They may jump from your pet to you and your family. Pets can also get tick-borne diseases and possibly AGS themselves. Consider giving your pets tick prevention medications. […] The more often you are bitten by ticks, the higher your risk for developing AGS. Preventing tick bites can also help protect you from other tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky mountain spotted fever.

• #24 Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

  https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome-ags

  While there is no treatment for AGS, people with an allergy can prevent allergic reactions from occurring by avoiding meats and other products that contain alpha-gal. […] People with AGS need to avoid eating meat from mammals to prevent allergic reactions from occurring. They can, however, continue to eat chicken, turkey, fish, and other non-mammalian meats because those meats do not contain alpha-gal. […] People with AGS can also prevent allergic reactions by avoiding exposure to foods and products that contain alpha-gal. Some strategies that may be recommended include: […] Avoidance of additional tick bites. People in the U.S. who are allergic to alpha-gal should avoid new bites from the lone star tick because they increase the level of IgE antibodies against alpha-gal, thereby increasing sensitivity to alpha-gal.

• #25 Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome:lessons from 2,500 patients

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8344025/

  Allergen avoidance along with rescue medication(s) are the mainstays of management for AGS. […] The primary advice for newly diagnosed patients with AGS is to completely avoid meat of mammals. […] We do not routinely include avoidance of dairy products as part of primary avoidance, as 80-90% of patients with AGS do not react to milk or cheese. […] Mammal products can be introduced into food and other products that are not obviously mammalian during preparation or manufacturing processes. […] Given the myriad of exposures detailed above and those not even known or identified to date, we will implement adjunctive medical therapies for patients with AGS who either remain symptomatic or will have potential high risk for exposures. […] Increasing awareness of AGS among healthcare providers is a critical first step in addressing the unmet needs in the diagnosis and management of AGS.

• #26 Alpha-gal syndrome – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20428705

  Alpha-gal syndrome treatment involves avoiding the foods that cause your reaction. Always check the ingredient labels on store-bought foods. Make sure they don’t have red meat or meat-based ingredients, such as: […] Be extra careful when you eat at restaurants and social get-togethers. Many people don’t understand how serious an allergic food reaction can be. And few people know that meat allergies exist. Even a small amount of red meat can cause a serious reaction. […] If you’re worried that a food may contain something you’re allergic to, don’t try it. Do what you can to lower your risk. For example, you could bring your own food to a party if guests are making food on a shared cooking surface. […] For a serious allergic reaction, you may need a shot of epinephrine and emergency care. Many people with allergies carry a device called an epinephrine auto-injector. It’s a syringe and concealed needle that injects a single dose of medication when you press it against your thigh. If you’ve been diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome, your doctor or allergist likely will prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector. […] If you think you have alpha-gal syndrome, avoid eating red meat until your appointment. If you have a serious reaction, get emergency help.

• #27 Alpha-gal Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24493-alpha-gal-syndrome

  If you develop AGS, you may have to avoid: […] Red meat: This includes beef, lamb, goat, venison, rabbit, buffalo or pork. […] Products made from red meat: These may be food additives, milk, cream, ice cream, lard or cheese. […] Personal care products made with meat: These include collagen, lanolin, gelatin or glycerin. […] Other products: Talk to your healthcare provider about medications. Also discuss pig or cow heart valves, surgical mesh or certain vaccines that may trigger allergic reactions.

• #28 Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

  https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome-ags

  Avoidance of meat, dairy products, and other products that contain alpha-gal. Individuals diagnosed with AGS should completely avoid the consumption of mammalian meat, including beef, pork, lamb, venison, goat, and rabbit. […] Because around 5% to 20% of people with AGS have allergic reactions to dairy products (which contain alpha-gal, though at lower levels than meat), health care providers may also recommend that some individuals with AGS avoid consuming dairy products, in particular those whose symptoms are not adequately controlled through meat avoidance alone. […] Many other products and medications may also contain alpha-gal. People with AGS should consult with their health care provider about which foods or other products they should avoid.

• #29 Understanding and Managing Alpha-gal Allergy | ITT

  https://www.dovepress.com/the-meat-of-the-matter-understanding-and-managing-alpha-gal-syndrome-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-ITT

  As with conventional IgE-mediated food-protein allergies, there is no cure for AGS. The mainstay of AGS management is to recommend avoidance of the allergen. In the case of AGS, first and foremost, patients are advised to avoid mammalian meat, including internal organs. Internal organs and fattier cuts of meats have been associated with increased risk for developing symptoms and progressing to more severe allergic reactions. Individuals with AGS should also be counseled to be wary of less obvious sources of mammalian alpha-gal, including beef broth, fatback or bacon in vegetables, pork encasings for poultry sausage, gravy drippings, and lard in biscuits. Dairy products do not need to be avoided routinely. In fact, patients with AGS can be encouraged to include moderate amounts of dairy products in the diet, particularly hard cheeses and skim or low-fat milk, since this has been associated with increased likelihood of spontaneous resolution of AGS. However, we do recommend dairy elimination from the diet if a patient continues to have symptoms despite strict avoidance of mammalian meat. From our clinical experience, approximately 80% of patients will experience symptom resolution with the elimination of mammalian meat products alone, while an additional 15% should have symptoms resolved with the removal of dairy in addition to mammalian meat. However, a small proportion of AGS patients (~5%) must also avoid gelatin-containing foods, including in some puddings and yogurts.

• #30 Alpha-gal syndrome: Recognizing and managing a tick-bite–related meat allergy | Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

  https://www.ccjm.org/content/92/5/311

  Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging condition characterized by an immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated reaction to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) after consumption of mammalian-derived food products. […] Management focuses on avoiding foods and products that contain alpha-gal and preventing tick bites. […] There is no cure, but avoiding alpha-gal exposure and future tick bites can lead to symptom resolution. […] Primary prevention for alpha-gal syndrome involves avoiding tick bites and taking appropriate action if a tick is detected. […] Patients with alpha-gal syndrome should be cautioned to prevent future tick bites, as repeated bites can sustain or increase alpha-gal IgE levels, which could exacerbate their allergy and symptoms. […] Most patients (89%) who avoid tick bites tend to see a decline in their alpha-gal IgE levels. […] While the rate of decrease varies, and it is uncertain what level of reduction is necessary to restore tolerance, Commins found that nearly 12% of patients tracked for more than 5 years had negative alpha-gal IgE titers ( 0.1 kU/L) and were able to reintroduce mammalian meat into their diets.

• #31 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Health.mil

  https://health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2024/05/15/news471323

  Prevent additional tick bites. New tick bites may reactivate your allergic reactions to alpha-gal. It is possible that your AGS symptoms will lessen or go away completely after a couple years if you receive no additional tick bites. […] But the ultimate goal is for people to take better precautions against tick bites, which will help reduce the disease occurrence.

• #32 Alpha-gal syndrome: Foods to Avoid – Daniel Cameron MD

  https://danielcameronmd.com/alpha-gal-syndrome-foods-to-avoid/

  Individuals with alpha-gal syndrome should take preventative measures to avoid further tick bites because additional tick bites may worsen the allergy. […] In cases of accidental exposure, patients can take diphenhydramine, 25 milligram tablets. Self-injectable epinephrine might help if respiratory compromised. […] The authors suggest, Gastroenterology clinicians should be aware of the diagnosis and management of alpha-gal syndrome because a subset of alpha-gal allergic patients show GI symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting without skin changes or anaphylaxis.

• #33 What is Alpha-Gal syndrome? Why are cases increasing in Oklahoma?

  https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/05/01/what-is-alpha-gal-syndrome-why-are-cases-increasing-in-oklahoma/73288812007/

  There is no direct treatment for alpha-gal syndrome other than avoiding foods that set off an allergic reaction, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension Office. […] If you have alpha-gal syndrome and experience serious anaphylactic reactions, you should carry an EpiPen.

• #34 Perioperative Implications of Patients with Alpha Gal Allergies

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11087933/

  Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an emerging immune response to mammalian products (MP) containing the oligosaccharide galactose-1,3 galactose (-Gal) which includes meats and inactive ingredients in certain medications. […] Additionally, strategies are explored in order to screen and prevent exposure to MP with a multidisciplinary approach. […] It is, therefore, pertinent that anesthesia and surgical providers understand the implications of this allergy and potential steps that can be taken to help avoid injury to the patient. […] The management of AGS in the perioperative setting begins at the pre-operative visit and continues after discharge. The mainstay of management is prevention and avoidance of triggering agents and early recognition of signs and symptoms of any reaction. […] Failure to detect these MPs found in the surgical suite and potentially exposing a patient during an operation may cause a delay to care but could also potentially harm the patient. Strategies must, therefore, be put in place to prevent operative exposure for patients with AGS.

• #35 University of Illinois Chicago

  https://dig.pharmacy.uic.edu/faqs/2023-2/december-2023-faqs/what-are-institutional-perioperative-practices-for-patients-with-alpha-gal-allergy/

  Due to the increased recognition/awareness of alpha-gal allergy, recent reports have described a need to identify the presence of alpha-gal in products commonly used perioperatively due to the number of products used over a relatively short period of time in this setting. […] Specific questions related to alpha-gal allergy include asking about red meat allergy and a previous allergic reaction to cetuximab, Zostavax (live varicella zoster), or yellow fever vaccine. […] Before attributing GI symptoms after food consumption to GI intolerance or asserting a diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis, healthcare providers should rule out alpha-gal allergy through patient history and IgE testing. […] According to some authors, alpha-gal IgE levels above 2 IU/mL increase the risk of severe allergic reactions.

• #36 Perioperative Challenges in Patients with Alpha-Gal Allergy

  https://scholars.direct/Articles/anesthesia-and-pain-management/jcapm-3-016.php?jid=anesthesia-and-pain-management

  There is no cure for MMA. There is no vaccine. Prevention should be the priority particularly during the spring, summer, and early fall when ticks are most active. The CDC outlines prevention methods including the avoidance of tick habitats. Attire should consist of light-colored clothing with long sleeves, long pants, and boots in tick-infested vegetation. The CDC recommends the use of insect repellant such as permethrin be applied to clothing. There does exist a public health network, Tick NET. This network was created in 2007 to provide the collaboration between state health departments, academic centers, and the CDC to enhance surveillance and improve prevention of tick-borne diseases, including new tick-borne diseases. […] Perioperative preparation for patients with known alpha-gal allergy requires necessary inquiry with pharmacists, drug manufacturers, and surgical product manufactures to confirm formularies, medication safety, and product specifications. The primary aim is avoiding or eliminating triggering agents. Common potential exposures of alpha-gal in the operating room include bio-prosthetic devices such as cardiac valves, surgical mesh products, hemostatic agents, and intravenous medications including but not limited to insulin and heparin. Heparin and heparin derivatives are likely to contain alpha-gal since they are porcine derived; however, there exists variability among different manufacture’s drug lots. Triggering a reaction may be dependent on pharmaceutical processing or dose. Most of the reported heparin reactions have been associated with high-dose heparin commonly used during cardiac surgery. Complex surgical procedures may require perioperative consultation well in advance to confirm safety specifications of the medications or products in question.

• #37 Perioperative Implications of Patients with Alpha Gal Allergies

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11087933/

  If there is any suspicion of AGS during the preoperative visit, an -Gal specific-IgE blood test should be sent, and referral made to an allergist if it is positive. […] Anesthesia providers must be judicious in screening medications for inactive ingredients that contain MPs and a best practice would be to designate a separate kit of AGS-approved medications specific to the operation. […] Lastly, in order to provide adequate post-operative pain and recovery the surgical, anesthesia and pharmacy teams should designate AGS-approved pills/capsules that do not contain MPs. […] While it may not be currently feasible to fully eliminate exposure of AGS patients to MPs in the operating theater, or to know for certain that all MPs truly have -Gal content, it is the responsibility of the anesthesiologist and surgeon to minimize potential harm to the patient through alternative strategies in the meantime.

• #38 University of Illinois Chicago

  https://dig.pharmacy.uic.edu/faqs/2023-2/december-2023-faqs/what-are-institutional-perioperative-practices-for-patients-with-alpha-gal-allergy/

  At a systems level, recommendations to identify and ensure safety for patient with AGS include: Increasing awareness and education of all health care providers […] Documentation of the allergy in the electronic chart and updating the electronic chart database to provide appropriate alerts […] Creation and maintenance of a formulary list of medications that contain alpha-gal […] Development of kits containing commonly used medications in the operative setting, for emergencies, and for codes that is periodically verified and appropriately labeled for use in patients with AGS […] Allowing patients to bring home medications for administration instead of using a potentially different manufacturers product from the hospital pharmacy. […] Until more evidence becomes available, health care providers, health care systems, and product manufacturers need to ensure availability and familiarity with medications and products that are alpha-gal free.

• #39 University of Illinois Chicago

  https://dig.pharmacy.uic.edu/faqs/2023-2/december-2023-faqs/what-are-institutional-perioperative-practices-for-patients-with-alpha-gal-allergy/

  In the case of heparin, several options include alternate anticoagulants, skin testing, and heparin desensitization and depend on alpha-gal IgE levels and urgency of the procedure. […] Although formal guidelines are not yet available, testing an alpha-gal IgE level can serve as a guide to the potential severity of the patients sensitivity and severity of a reaction if exposed to an alpha-gal containing product. […] Until more standard recommendations become available, utilizing these precautions in patients with AGS may help reduce the risk of an allergic reaction in the perioperative setting.

• #40 Health Care Provider Knowledge Regarding Alpha-gal Syndrome — United States, March–May 2022 | MMWR

  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a1.htm

  Limited HCP knowledge about AGS is concerning, especially because the number of suspected cases is increasing, and the range of the tick primarily associated with this condition is expected to expand. Improved HCP education might facilitate a rapid diagnosis of AGS, improve patient care, and support public health understanding of this emerging condition. […] This limited provider knowledge might also lead to delayed or missed diagnosis and incorrect patient management. A growing number of resources are available for HCPs seeking additional education related to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with AGS. […] Increased HCP education and awareness of AGS are needed to hasten and improve the accuracy of AGS diagnoses, patient care, and the understanding of the epidemiology of this emerging condition.

• #41 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230802/The-evolving-emergence-of-alpha-gal-syndrome-in-the-United-States.aspx

  In the present report, researchers highlighted the evolving AGS emergence, which can help local and state health agencies launch national surveillance efforts to aid public health decision-making, geographically target high-risk populations for public health outreach, improve community awareness about tick bite prevention to minimize AGS acquisition risk and provide healthcare provider (HCP) education for more timely diagnosis and treatment. […] The findings support AGS in community outreach addressing tickborne illness prevention efforts, especially as tick exposures resulting from AGS may have long-term health consequences.

• #42 Learning about alpha-gal | IU Health

  https://iuhealth.org/thrive/learning-about-alpha-gal

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is caused by a sugar molecule in the saliva of certain ticks that makes people allergic to red meat and other products made from mammals. […] This is a serious food allergy, and the treatment is to avoid mammalian meat and products made from the byproducts of mammals, such as lamb, beef and pork. […] A dietitian can recommend an AGS avoidance diet that is nutritionally complete and includes protein options like fish, poultry and seafood. […] They can also teach individuals how to read food labels and identify ingredients that trigger AGS. Additionally, they can educate patients, families and foodservice teams about AGS. […] Alpha-gal is becoming more common as a diagnosis and there is a need for education about it so we can reduce the risk of misdiagnoses.

• #43 Taking a bite out of meat allergies | UNC-Chapel Hill

  https://www.unc.edu/discover/taking-a-bite-out-of-meat-allergies/

  A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 34,000 people nationwide have alpha-gal syndrome. […] While scientists are confident that alpha-gal syndrome is acquired through tick bites, the actual way in which it develops is unclear. […] Another possible way of transmission is a tick may feed on an animal like a dog or deer and then a human for its next blood meal. […] Also, if the person can avoid further tick bites, for many, the allergy will eventually subside. […] It may seem simple to avoid red meat, but the difficulty is in unexpected exposures. […] Its those hidden exposures that often are the ones that trip people up and can lead to accidental reactions, Commins said. […] Understanding more about alpha-gal syndrome may help prevent some of those accidental exposures. […] Commins has also been named the leading alpha-gal syndrome expert for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services national tick-borne disease working group, where he will help develop public health recommendations for disease prevention, treatment and research.

• #44 Tick-borne red meat allergy prevented in mice through new nanoparticle treatment – Chemical Engineering

  https://che.engin.umich.edu/2024/08/12/tick-borne-red-meat-allergy-prevented-in-mice-through-new-nanoparticle-treatment/

  Nanoparticles delivered intravenously in mice can block the allergic reactions to red meat caused by the bite of the lone star tick, new research led by the University of Michigan shows. […] Developed at U-M, the nanoparticles contain allergens that retrain the immune system to ignore the type of sugar found in beef, pork, lamb and other mammals. […] „Treating food allergies usually means de-sensitizing patients to the allergen so that their immune system does not react inappropriately,” said Lonnie Shea, the Steven A. Goldstein Collegiate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Chemical Engineering at U-M and co-corresponding author on the study. „Our nanoparticles, when introduced prior to or after sensitization, have been remarkably effective in reducing the immune response in multiple food allergies.”

• #45 The Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Unique Tick-Borne Illness on the Rise – Clinical Advisor

  https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/features/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-borne-illness/

  Symptomatic treatment of an allergy includes antihistamines, corticosteroids, cromolyn-based mast cell stabilizers, antiemetics, and antidiarrheal agents. These are pharmacologic agents that can be prescribed by the health care provider. […] Mammalian meat desensitization by oral immunotherapy (OIT) has been proposed as a promising treatment for AGS. It consists of daily intake of very small and incrementally increasing amounts of allergen in order to reduce the immune response and consequently produce allergen desensitization. However, this procedure has not been sufficiently researched for safe use at this time. […] The use of anti-IgE therapy has been researched in the treatment of food allergy. In anti-IgE therapy, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are administered that bind to IgE and IgE-coated B-cells to reduce the reaction of antibodies with mast cells and basophils. The combination of anti-IgE therapy as a pre-treatment for OIT has also been researched. The anti-IgE monoclonal antibody omalizumab has been used in specialized centers as monotherapy in AGS patients for successfully controlling continued reactivity, allowing the introduction of a small amount of mammalian meat into the diet.

• #46 Understanding and Managing Alpha-gal Allergy | ITT

  https://www.dovepress.com/the-meat-of-the-matter-understanding-and-managing-alpha-gal-syndrome-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-ITT

  While there is one oral immunotherapy treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of peanut allergy, otherwise known as peanut OIT, there are no FDA-approved OIT treatments for AGS. The purpose of OIT is to feed a food-allergic individual escalating doses of food allergen until the person reaches a therapeutic treatment dose, which is administered daily to desensitize the allergic individual to the food in question. OIT mitigates allergic responses to food by modulating cellular and immunoglobulin responses to food allergen. Unal et al reported two cases of successful beef desensitization in adult patients with AGS utilizing a 27-day desensitization protocol starting with 0.00005 mg of beef extract twice daily and terminating in 100g serving size of beef daily. In addition, there is a case report of successful beef desensitization in a pediatric patient in Turkey who underwent a 24-day buildup protocol and was able to tolerate 120 g of beef daily following completion of desensitization. In each of these cases, the patients were instructed to continue daily consumption to maintain desensitization.

• #47 Tick bites and alpha-gal syndrome focus of $3.5M research grant – VUMC News

  https://news.vumc.org/2024/04/04/tick-bites-and-alpha-gal-syndrome-focus-of-3-5m-research-grant/

  Scott Smith, MD, PhD, has been awarded a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study the human immune response to tick bites and its role in preventing tick-borne illnesses. […] The research aims to shed light on the phenomenon of acquired tick resistance and its implications for diseases like alpha-gal syndrome, an acquired meat allergy associated with past exposure to certain tick bites. […] The study will focus on tick-bite defenses as mounted by immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody involved in allergic reactions. […] Smith and his team have preliminary data suggesting that repeated exposure to tick bites triggers the production of IgE antibodies targeting tick salivary proteins, potentially resulting in protection from subsequent bites.

• #48 Understanding and Managing Alpha-gal Allergy | ITT

  https://www.dovepress.com/the-meat-of-the-matter-understanding-and-managing-alpha-gal-syndrome-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-ITT

  There have been recent case reports utilizing complementary medicine approaches in the management of AGS, specifically Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT), a form of auricular acupuncture. For example, a case series reported by Bernal et al described 137 patients who presented for SAAT at two different clinical centers. Treatment was not randomized, not placebo-controlled, and was unblinded. The majority of patients reported cutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms and 93% of them had removed mammalian meat from the diet. Of the 126 out of 137 patients undergoing SAAT with post SAAT documented follow-up, 96% (121/126) reported remission of their AGS symptoms. This case series introduces a potential role for complementary and alternative therapies in the management of AGS and possibly other IgE-mediated food allergies. However, as these were case reports and the mechanism of action by which auricular acupuncture mitigates IgE-mediated alpha-gal syndrome remains unclear, further studies are clearly needed to assess the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of this treatment method.

• #49 Understanding and Managing Alpha-gal Allergy | ITT

  https://www.dovepress.com/the-meat-of-the-matter-understanding-and-managing-alpha-gal-syndrome-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-ITT

  When patients report continued symptoms despite avoidance of alpha-gal containing products or if they are at high risk for exposure, pharmaceutical management of allergic symptoms may be warranted. Notably, there are no published observational studies or randomized clinical trials exploring the efficacy of any medicine for symptom control in alpha-gal syndrome. From our clinical experience, however, medications to consider include oral antihistamines, oral cromolyn solution (a mast cell stabilizer), oral corticosteroid (provided as a short burst and taper for acute reactions), omalizumab, and metformin. Interestingly, a few patients receiving omalizumab were able to reintroduce small amounts of mammal meat into the diet, while six patients with AGS receiving metformin prior to bariatric surgery added back both dairy and mammal meat to their diets.

• #50 A Half-Million Americans May Have Tick-Linked Meat Allergy, C.D.C. Says – The New York Times

  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/health/alpha-gal-ticks-meat-allergy.html

  As many as 450,000 Americans may be living with alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy that has been linked to tick bites, with many of those people going undiagnosed, according to two new studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. […] Dr. Salzer stressed the importance of tick bite prevention, noting that unlike some other tick-borne diseases, alpha-gal syndrome has no treatment or cure. […] „Alpha-gal syndrome can be a lifelong condition,” Dr. Salzer said. „It definitely needs to be a part of the conversation of why tick prevention is so important for public health.”

• #51 Alpha-gal Syndrome: When a Tick-Bite Turns to a Meat Allergy

  https://asm.org/articles/2023/december/alpha-gal-syndrome-when-a-tick-bite-turns-to-a-mea

  For many people, AGS appears to be a long-lasting illness with a severe impact on mental health. […] Yet, research shows that a large number of medical professionals in the U.S. are unaware of AGS, and among the health care providers who are familiar with the disease, knowledge about how to diagnose and treat it is limited. […] Climate change will necessitate a collaborative vector control and prevention plan.

• #52 Department of Health | Communicable Disease Service | Alpha-gal Syndrome

  https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/alphagal.shtml

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) (also called alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to alpha-gal, which is a sugar molecule found in many mammals, but not in people. […] Prevention of tick bites is important in preventing tickborne disease and may reduce your chances of developing AGS. While outdoors, avoid wooded areas with dense shrubs and leaf litter, wear protective clothing and use EPA-registered insect repellent. After coming inside, check clothing for ticks, shower, perform a tick check and remove attached ticks immediately. […] NJDOH started statewide surveillance for AGS effective January 1, 2022 to better understand the local epidemiology, recognize areas in New Jersey where AGS incidence has increased or decreased, focus preventive education on tick bite prevention to reduce overall tickborne disease risk, and to increase healthcare provider awareness of AGS.

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