Man changes his life for meat allergy caused by a tick bite

A man from New Jersey, United States, faces a new reality after being bitten by an invasive species of tick, the star tick.

Now, he has developed a red meat allergy, making him unable to consume any product. beef, pork or dairy products as you are subject to experiencing an allergic reaction serious. This unexpected circumstance led him to adopt a vegan diet involuntarily.

This week in Brazil, three individuals lost their lives to the star tick. Among the deceased are a 28-year-old woman, as well as a couple formed by a 36-year-old dentist and a 42-year-old businessman. All succumbed to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, an infectious disease transmitted by the star tick (Amblyomma cajennense), a carrier of the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii or Rickettsia parkeri.

Learn more about the case

Craig Smith, 62, shared his experience rather sadly, saying his life had taken a significant turn.

He has expressed his reluctance to become a vegetarian due to his red meat allergy, describing how this change has affected his outlook on food.

According to him, food now represents a challenge and a source of frustration. The situation completely transformed his relationship with food.

Star tick caused meat allergy

He faces the challenges of Down syndrome alpha gal, a serious allergic condition that makes you vulnerable to a dangerous immune reaction when exposed to a specific sugar molecule found in meat. O National Institutes of Health identifies this molecule as galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose.

the syndrome of alpha gal, an insidious condition, has shown a significant increase in diagnoses in the United States, having grown uncontrollably between 2011 and 2018. This condition is transmitted by the saliva of the lone star tick, an invasive species of parasite that feeds on blood.

After eating meat or dairy products, the symptoms of Down syndrome alpha gal they usually manifest themselves two to six hours later. Signs include difficulty breathing, hives, facial swelling and, in more severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Smith's harrowing story began in the spring of last year, when he was awakened in the middle of the night by large insect bites that were smeared all over his body.

Concerned, he sought medical help and consulted several allergists, but none of them could reach a complete diagnosis.

After a series of additional blood tests, the doctor's suspicion was finally confirmed. The nomination guaranteed a radical change in the diet of the man, who loved eating red meat.

The ban was really challenging for the pensioner, who had to follow a vegetarian diet. Science indicates that there is no cure for this disease and there is still an increase in reports of the disease in the United States, in addition to the increase in reports of star tick bites.

The data are equally alarming in Brazil. According to the Ministry of Health, the period from 2007 to 2021 registered 36,497 notifications of spotted fever in the country, with 7% of these confirmed cases, which results in an annual average of 170 cases. Of the 2,545 validated cases, 2,538 reported having been exposed to risk situations, with 68.5% of them claiming to have visited forest areas.

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