Can Tick Bites React To Certain Medicines?

Have you ever taken a specific medicine and instead of it working, it gives you more so reasons to worry? You break out in hives, your heart beats faster, and you suffer from uncontrollable itching? We have earlier discussed amoxicillin rash, but there are many more other medications that reacts with our body, especially when we are struggling with an already existing condition.

Red meat allergy or Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), is an emerging medical condition linked to tick bites,, which triggers allergic reactions to carbohydrates called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), found in all mammals except humans and some of the world-old primates. This syndrome can also lead to many severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.

What causes AGS?

It is associated with bites from lone star ticks, a species which is found in several parts of the United States, including North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia. The tick bite introduces alpha-gal, which is not present in the human body and it leads to production of antibodies against this carbohydrate. However, exposes to this through food and other sources can result in allergic reactions.

Can It Be Triggered By Medicines?

While AGS is often labeled as a red meat allergy, it can come from other sources too. These include gelatin in gummy candies and yogurts. It also comes in dairy products, which contain mammalian components.

There are certain personal care products like shampoos with keratin, which are derived from animal horns or hooves, and deodorants containing lanolin, from sheep's wool, which can trigger the same.

In fact some medicines and medical products like cetuximab, a cancer treatment and a blood thinner called heparin could also lead to this allergy. Mammalian-derived gelatine capsules, and anti-venoms for snake bites too can trigger the allergy. This could also complicate treatments for unrelated medical conditions.

Symptoms of Alpha-Gal Syndrome

While it may look like any other allergies, what sets it apart is that unlike other allergies, it takes three to six hours after consuming the above mentioned products. The symptoms include:

• Hives or itchy rashes
• Gastrointestinal distress
• Swelling and difficulty breathing
• Joint pain and nonspecific digestive issues that can be mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome

What Are The Concerns?

The prevalence of AGS is on the rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated it up to 450,000 cases in the US. The geographic spread also aligns with the range of the lone star tick, which could be expanding due to climate change. Other tick species also contribute.

Despite the cases being on the surge, AGS still remains underdiagnosed. A CDC study found that 42% of healthcare providers are unaware of this condition, while 35% lack knowledge on how to treat it. Misdiagnosis also leads to frustration for patients, especially those who experience reaction to medications without a clear understanding of the cause.

What Can Be Done Instead?

It is important that you avoid tick bites. However, preventive measures such as using tick repellent and wearing protective clothing in tick-infested areas are some of the ways one can protect themselves against it.