06/20/2026
While alpha-gal isn’t common, Allergists are seeing the number of cases rise. What makes this different than IgE-mediated food allergies is that the allergen is a carbohydrate, not a protein and that the reaction is delayed hours from ingesting the food.
Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome can range from mild to severe and often appear 3-6 hours after eating red meat.
Common symptoms of alpha-gal allergy include:
- Hives or an itchy rash
- Severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Coughing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or eyelids
- Dizziness or a drop in blood pressure
When symptoms are getting worse quickly and affect more than one body part, it is called anaphylaxis. This needs immediate treatment with epinephrine.
Learn more about this allergy and how to identify these ticks: https://aafa.org/allergies/types-of-allergies/insect-allergy/alpha-gal-syndrome/
