The bite of a tick, such as the Lone Star tick, can cause you to develop an allergy to red meat, also known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)
. Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals, but not in humans
. The saliva of some ticks contains alpha-gal, and when they bite, they inject it into the bloodstream, which can cause an immune system response and increase sensitivity to red meat
. Symptoms of AGS can range from mild to severe and may include itchy rash, nausea, and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that requires immediate treatment
. Symptoms often take several hours to develop, which can make it challenging to identify the cause
. AGS can be diagnosed through a blood test, and while there is no cure, the allergy can be managed by avoiding red meat and products containing alpha-gal
. Some people with the allergy may see it diminish over time if they avoid further tick bites
