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South Florida’s 1st News With Andrew Colton

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Doctors Stumped by Red Meat Allergy Caused by Ticks

Illustration of a tick crawling on human skin

Photo: SCIEPRO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Science Photo Library / Getty Images

Nearly a half million Americans are affected by a potentially life-threatening red meat allergy caused by ticks and doctors don't know what it is or how to treat it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC says the "alpha-gal syndrome" also known as a "red meat allergy" or "tick-bite meat allergy," stems from alpha-gal, a sugar molecule that is not naturally occurring in humans.

Instead, it is found in meat, gelatin and milk products. Doctors say symptoms usually appear just hours after ingesting these products.

Symptoms include hives or itchy rash, nausea or vomiting, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids, dizziness or faintness, or severe stomach pain.


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