The American Gastroenterological Association has launched new steering to assist docs and sufferers determine if unexplained digestive signs are brought on by alpha-gal syndrome, a meals allergy brought on by tick bites. The steering was printed within the medical journal Gastroenterology and explains that alpha-gal syndrome causes the physique to react to meat and merchandise made out of mammals, with signs showing 2-6 hours after consumption.
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has launched new scientific steering to assist physicians and sufferers determine if unexplained digestive signs are because of alpha-gal syndrome, a meals allergy that’s brought on by lone star tick bites. The AGA Clinical Practice Update was printed as we speak (March 21, 2023) within the medical journal Gastroenterology.
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy that causes your physique to react to consuming meat from mammals and merchandise made out of mammals. Symptoms normally begin 2-6 hours after consuming the mammalian meat or meals.
Credit: American Gastroenterological Association
Clinicians ought to think about alpha-gal syndrome in sufferers with unexplained gastrointestinal signs of stomach ache, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, significantly those that stay or have lived in an alpha-gal–prevalent space (this contains the Southeast, mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and East Central U.S. areas). For sufferers with suspected alpha-gal, there’s a blood take a look at that appears for immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE) to alpha-gal. Patients with these antibodies could have alpha-gal allergy. The fundamental therapy for alpha-gal allergy is to not eat meals that comprise alpha-gal. This contains mammalian meat, fats, and merchandise made out of them.
Credit: American Gastroenterological Association
About Alpha-gal syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy that causes your physique to reply badly to ingesting mammalian merchandise; meat from mammals or merchandise made out of mammals reminiscent of cheese, butter, milk, cream, gelatin, and so on. Mammals are animals which have hair, reminiscent of cows, pigs, and deer. Symptoms normally begin 2-6 hours after consuming the mammalian meat or meals. The alpha-gal allergy may cause signs of the gastrointestinal tract (digestive system) like abdomen ache, diarrhea (free stool), nausea or upset stomach, and vomiting (throwing up). It also can trigger hives (an itchy rash), flushing of the pores and skin, swelling of the face, or fainting.
About lone star ticks
Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) are a species of tick found predominantly in the southeastern and eastern United States. They are named for the distinctive white spot on the back of adult females, which resembles the shape of the state of Texas. Lone star ticks are known for their aggressive behavior, feeding on a variety of hosts, including humans, dogs, and deer. They are also known to carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and alpha-gal syndrome, a food allergy that causes the body to react to mammalian meat.
As the official journal of the AGA Institute, Gastroenterology is the leading publication in the field of gastrointestinal disease. It provides reliable and current coverage of both clinical and basic gastroenterology, with regular contributions from renowned experts and the latest information on disease treatments. Original research is categorized by clinical and basic-translational content, as well as by content related to the alimentary tract, liver, pancreas, and biliary system.
