Dr. Scott Commins, MD, PhD, in the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, is an Alpha-gal Syndrome (red meat allergy) expert. He explains how a bite from a Lone Star Tick could impact your health.
There’s the more subtle presentation.
“They have terrible abdominal cramping and pain and diarrhea, maybe nausea and vomiting, and it’s all actually due to the same allergy,” Commins said.
Then there’s the more “traditional” presentation.
“You eat beef or barbecue in the evening, and four to six hours later you start itching and get some hives, then maybe some chest tightness, some gastrointestinal symptoms, and ultimately, those folks are diagnosed by a blood test,” Commins said.