Can I Get Ags From A Tick Bite
- Growing evidence suggests that AGS may be triggered by the bite of a lone star tick in the United States, but other kinds of ticks have not been ruled out. Other tick species have been connected with the development of AGS in other countries.
- More research is needed to understand the role ticks play in starting this reaction, and why certain people develop AGS.
Fda Clears First Blood Test For Identifying A Novel Allergic Sensitization To Red Meat
Thermo Fisher Scientifics ImmunoCAP Specific IgE alpha-Gal Allergen Component test helps clinicians pinpoint a potentially fatal allergy often resulting from tick bites
PORTAGE, Mich., July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ ImmunoCAP Specific IgE alpha-Gal Allergen Component test has been cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for in vitro diagnostic use. Test results can aid specialists and other healthcare providers as they diagnose a patients sensitization to the alpha-Gal carbohydrate found in mammalian meat and assess his or her risk for an anaphylactic reaction.
According to the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, an allergy to alpha-Gal can cause patients to have a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to galactose-alpha-1, 3-galactose that is found in most mammalian meat. Unlike other food allergies, reactions from eating red meat may be delayed, occurring three to eight hours after eating. Symptoms range from hives and itching, to abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. In severe cases the allergy can cause anaphylaxis which can be potentially fatal. The condition can appear in patients who have tolerated meat for many years, with researchers believing that sensitization to alpha-Gal may be the result of a bite from the lone star tick .
For more information on testing for alpha-Gal allergy, symptoms and diagnosis, please visit allergyinsider.com.
Media Contact Information
What Should I Do If I Have Ags
- AGS should be treated and managed under the care of an allergist or other healthcare provider.
- Many foods and products contain alpha-gal you will need to work with your healthcare provider to understand which products you need to avoid.
- Prevent tick bites. New tick bites may reactivate allergic reactions to alpha-gal.
Don’t Miss: Can Allergies Cause Bad Breath
What Happens During An Oral Food Challenge
- You will attend the hospital/clinic where an allergy nurse/doctor will need to check and record your vital signs
- Oral food challenges are often carried out in an open plan setting, with other children and adults attending oral food challenge/allergy appointments
- The start of the oral food challenge involves being given a very small and measured amount of the food. Once this first dose has been given you/your child will be closely observed. The allergy nurse/doctor will be closely observing you for signs of an allergic reaction, for example a rash or it is important to tell them if you are experiencing any symptoms that they may not be able to see, for example itching or tingling
- Infants and children will be fed and encouraged in an age appropriate way
It is very normal for anyone having an oral food challenge to have questions and concerns and the nurse or doctor will be able to respond to these and re-assure you.
If you have thought of some questions before the appointment it may be useful to write them down to take with you. Discuss any concerns or anxieties with the nurse or doctor at your appointment who should be able to answer any questions you have.
What Happens During An Allergy Blood Test
An allergy blood test only takes a few minutes. A healthcare provider called a lab technician usually takes blood samples in your doctors office or a lab.
Heres what you can expect:
- The phlebotomist takes blood from a vein in your arm using a thin needle.
- The needle might cause a mild pinch and some discomfort.
- The phlebotomist fills a collection tube with blood and then removes the needle.
- They place a small bandage on your arm.
Don’t Miss: How Long Do Fall Allergies Last
How To Test Yourself For Food And Drink Allergies And Sensitivities
One cause of health issues that your Naturopathic Doctor considers when helping you is whether you are dealing with allergies and sensitivities to different food and drink compounds.
This can be a complex issue and it is best to consult with your Naturopathic Doctor about this topic however there is a simple test that you can use to provide yourself with indications of allergies and sensitivities which we want to share with you today.
The Difference Between Allergies and Sensitivities
First lets define the difference between allergies and sensitivities: allergies refer to any compound which is a protein, so for instance if you react to eggs this is an allergic reaction. Anything that you might react to which is not a protein would be a sensitivity, so for instance wheat and gluten would fall into this category.
Unknown and untreated food and drink allergies and sensitivities can cause many health issues, some of which can be quite significant: some examples would include conditions like weight gain/difficulty losing weight, migraine headaches, eczema and other skin conditions and gut issues such as IBS .
A common approach to treat these kinds of conditions is to suppress them with drugs which can potentially over the long term make them worse and it does not target the cause.
Cocoa Pulse Test
How to Do the Cocoa Pulse Test
For more information on the Coca Pulse Test, talk to your Naturopathic Doctor and/or you can review the document below.
Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody Test
The ALCAT is the predecessor of the MRT, but many healthcare practitioners and labs still offer it.
To assess which foods may provoke a reaction for you, it measures changes in the size of your white blood cells when exposed to individual food antigens, which may decrease accuracy.
When people with IBS followed a diet based on their ALCAT results for 4 weeks, they reported twice the reduction in certain IBS symptoms, such as abdominal pain and bloating, compared with people following a placebo diet .
However, those who followed ALCAT-based diets didnt rate their IBS relief as being adequate or significantly improving their quality of life during the study .
Summary
Cell-based blood tests, including the MRT and ALCAT, assess changes in your white blood cells after exposure to food antigens. Some practitioners report that the tests may be helpful in identifying food sensitivities, but both tests require further study.
Also Check: How To Sleep Better With Allergies
At Home Food Allergy Testing
At-home allergy test to assess in four easy steps whether a particular food might be triggering intolerance or sensitivity issues. Not appropriate for severe situations that may trigger anaphylaxis.
Food sensitivities and allergies in children are clearly on the rise. Official estimates put the number at about 6% of children under the age of three. This sure seems low to me.
In my childs preschool class, 10 of 12 children suffered from at least one food allergy!
Why Do Some People Make Ige Antibodies To A Food And Do Not Have An Allergy To The Food
There are many other immune system factors that enable IgE antibodies to trigger an allergic reaction. Some people make IgE antibodies to food but their immune system does not make the factors to allow an allergic reaction to happen. People who make an IgE antibody but tolerate the food are not allergic to it. They are said to be only sensitized to it. Note that even though the words sound the same, being sensitized to a food is not the same as having a food sensitivity.
Also Check: Do Allergies Make Your Throat Hurt
What Causes Tick Bite
The details of how a tick bite leads to allergic reactions to red meat and other substances are not completely understood.
The species of ticks that cause alpha-gal allergy include:
- The lone star tick found in the United States
- The castor bean tick found in Europe
- The paralysis tick found in Australia
- The hard tick species Ixodes australiensis, found in Australia
- An unknown tick species found in South Africa and other regions .
The tick injects saliva containing alpha-gal into the skin of its victim. Sensitisation to alpha-gal is associated with the development of specific IgE antibodies to the carbohydrate. The component of alpha-gal that causes sensitisation is not known .
The symptoms of the subsequent reaction to red meat are typical of most food allergies, except that the reaction is delayed by several hours and the antigen is a carbohydrate in the meat rather than a protein. More severe reactions can occur in people exposed to multiple tick bites.
Red meat is defined as all meats obtained from mammals and includes beef, pork, and lamb. The meat is red because of the high concentrations of myoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen to the muscles. Meat obtained from birds, such as chicken or turkey, is white meat and lacks alpha-gal so does not generate an allergic response.
Other substances can cause the same allergic response, including:
Are There Other Recommended Tests To Help Diagnose Food Allergy
Food elimination diets remove a group of foods from the diet on a trial basis to see if this stops the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions.
Food elimination diets can be tempting to try. They can be hard to follow and are rarely needed for a diagnosis. Elimination diets that restrict a lot of foods can also lead to malnutrition, especially in children. If a child with a higher risk of developing food allergy avoids a tolerated food for a long time, it may increase their risk of developing an allergy to that food.
An allergist can tell you whether an elimination diet would be helpful. They can provide a list of foods to stop eating for a specific trial period based on the personâs health history and test results. A registered dietitian can provide advice and guidance to help the person meet their nutrition needs and support meal planning for the trial. Whether and how each food should be added back to the diet should be discussed with the allergist. Some foods should only be reintroduced in a medical clinic during an oral food challenge.
Don’t Miss: Is Olive Oil Good For Skin Allergies
How To Prevent Ags
Given that tick bites are the main cause of AGS, taking proper precautions while outdoors is your best defense against the syndrome, says Dr. Perez. He recommends:
- Wear clothing that completely covers your skin in areas with tick activity. That means long-sleeve shirts, pants and high socks. Tucking your pant legs into your socks can provide added protection.
- Use bug sprays on your clothes and skin to ward off creepy crawlies. DEET-based repellants are safe to use.
Make sure to check your clothing and skin for ticks before coming back inside, too. Remove any attached ticks with tweezers ASAP.
When Is An Allergy Blood Test Needed
You may need an allergy blood test if you have:
- Allergic rhinitis , usually the result of pollen, pet allergies or mold .
- Anaphylaxis, which is a severe and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction to certain foods, insect stings or other allergens.
- Contact dermatitis, caused by contact with irritants such as chemicals, detergents, poisonous plants or certain metals .
Allergy symptoms may include:
- Wheezing, tightness in your chest or allergic asthma.
You May Like: When Does Allergy Season End Spring
Avoidance Of Mammalian Meat
The primary advice for newly diagnosed patients with AGS is to completely avoid meat of mammals . In most areas of the U.S. this means beef, pork, venison and lamb. Internal organs are equally or more able to induce reactions and these should be avoided as well, especially pork kidney . Equally, fattier forms of meat are more consistently associated with symptoms and more severe reactions upon challenge . Cooking does not appear to significantly denature the alpha-gal epitope but, in our experience, may reduce reaction severity likely through reduction in fat content . Meat and products derived from other mammals such as bison, buffalo, rabbit, horse, and goat should equally be avoided . Patients do report symptoms with exposure to fumes from mammalian meats/fats being cooked however, no blinded challenges have been published to definitively document the airborne route of exposure. Interestingly, experience suggests fumes may pose a more potent risk to reactive patients than moderate levels of pet dander exposure. As with other food allergies, we take an individualized approach to management of AGS . This includes not only dietary avoidance advice but also nutritional management, discussion of labeling issues and hidden exposures, awareness of individual eliciting threshold doses and the possible influence of tick bites, as well as use of masks for fume-sensitive patients, inhaled beta-agonists, prophylactic anti-histamines and even omalizumab.
How Is Food Allergy Diagnosed
Allergists and pediatric allergists are medical doctors. They have training in immunology and the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the immune system. They have advanced training in diagnosing and recommending treatment and monitoring plans for patients with different types of food allergy, including IgE antibody triggered food allergy.
Family doctors and pediatricians can also diagnose food allergy. They will refer their patients to an allergist or pediatric allergist when a more detailed assessment would be helpful.
There are three main steps an allergist will use to diagnose food allergy:
You May Like: Why Do Some People Have Pollen Allergies
How To Test For Food Intolerance
To understand what foods could be problematic for you, you can either try an elimination diet or take food intolerance test, and then monitor your symptoms.
1. Try an elimination diet. This involves removing reactive food from your diet and monitoring your symptoms for up to eight weeks. Foods are then reintroduced one-by-one to see if your symptoms return. For guidance on conducting an elimination diet, you may wish to speak to a Registered Nutritional Therapist
2. Take a food sensitivity test. Confusingly, these are often referred to as food intolerance tests, even though they actually test for food sensitivities. For ease, well use these terms interchangeably in this article. This sort of test looks at your blood chemistry to see which IgG proteins are present, providing insight into how your body is responding to certain foods. A food intolerance test takes some of the guesswork out of an elimination diet, but your results still need to be considered in light of your overall health.
But, remember: food reactions have similar symptoms to other gut-associated conditions, which makes it tricky to pinpoint the exact cause.
Many times, if youre reacting to several foods, its not actually a specific food sensitivity thats at the root of your problems. Its that the health of your gut is compromised and needs a little attention. Usually, once you address and restore gut function, you can go back to enjoying the perceived problematic foods.
What Tests Are Not Recommended To Diagnose Food Allergy
Food-specific IgG antibody testing measures the level of food-specific IgG antibodies in the blood. The immune system makes IgG antibodies to proteins found in foods that you regularly eat. Some people claim that having food-specific IgG antibodies signals a food allergy or sensitivity, but there is no evidence that this is true. High levels of IgG antibodies to foods regularly eaten are found in people without food allergies. It is normal to have IgG antibodies to foods that you tolerate. This is the reason why this test is not recommended.
Combined food-specific IgG and IgE antibody testing provides a total count of the food-specific IgG and IgE antibodies in the blood. Since the levels of food-specific IgG antibodies do not indicate a health concern, the total count is not helpful for diagnosing food allergy.
You May Like: Can Green Mucus Be Caused By Allergies
What The Test Results Mean
You need to ask your doctor what the numbers in your lab report mean. We are not qualified to interpret them for you. However, the following guide may help you talk to your doctor about your results.
Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose IgE and Total IgE
- At the time this is being written, antibody levels > 0.10 kU/L are typically considered a positive test result .
- Antibody levels > 2 IU/ml or > 2% of total IgE make the diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome very likely .
- Physicians at UVA recently saw a case with a convincing history whose total serum IgE was 6.0 IU/ml and alpha-gal IgE was 0.8 IU/ml. Thus, although the sIgE was < 1.0 IU/mL it was nonetheless > 10% of the total IgE.
- Only 1-8% of individuals who are sensitized to alpha-gal have clinical alpha-gal syndrome . This means that many people who test positive for alpha-gal IgE do not seem to exhibit symptoms after eating red meat. As reactivity to alpha-gal appears to occur on a spectrum, a portion of these people may react to some medications or medical products containing alpha-gal and/or experience symptoms after eating mammalian organs, which contain more alpha-gal than mammalian muscle.
- As with any allergy, false negatives also occur, although they are less common.
- Anecdotal reports from people with AGS seem to suggest that a not insignificant number of people who are initially seropositive for alpha-gal IgE eventually revert to seronegative but continue to experience reactions.
Pork IgE and Beef Ig
Your Lab Report May Include Some Or All Of The Following Test Results
Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose IgE
- This is a measure of your galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose specific IgE antibodies.
Pork IgE and Beef IgE
- These are measures of your IgE antibodies to the proteins in beef and pork.
- The samples used to perform these tests may contain both proteins and alpha-gal.
Total IgE
- This is a measure of all your IgE antibodies to all allergens, not just to one specific allergen.
Recommended Reading: What Does A Gluten Allergy Feel Like
