Ailments & ConditionsYour Health

Common Tick-Borne Diseases

Alpha-Gal Allergy

A tick bite would trigger alpha-gal allergy, an allergic response of the body to red meat. This is because ticks would pass alpha-gal into the system. This is a form of carbohydrate often found in red meat like lamb, pork, and beef. The immune system will react to these elements and cause allergic symptoms. People with this condition might feel mildly uncomfortable after consuming meat. Severe cases would cause itching, nausea, skin rash, headaches, weakness, and swelling of tongue, lips, or throat. [11]