Do you know about ALPHA GAL ?
And, no, it does not refer to a 'first lady'.
Or do you know about the LONE STAR TICK?
If you have not heard of this potentially deadly allergy and the tick bite that can cause it, you are not alone. Even many medical professionals have not yet learned of this rather new disease, first identified in 2002. (For further information, search Alpha gal and Lone Star tick).
Untreated Alpha Gal allergic reactions result in Anaphylaxis... an inability to breathe. When a clinical assistant in a medical office began experiencing AG symptoms, EMS personnel were called to transport her to a nearby hospital. The most obvious trigger for AG is eating any kind of mammalian meat. Forgoing dairy products is necessary for some AG people. There are several subtle causes as well, including medicines and foods that contain mammal byproducts such as gelatin in capsules.
We became aware of this pest-borne allergy when my wife awoke at 2a.m. with severe hives, requiring a trip to the Emergency Room. In the ensuing years, many facets of our lives have changed. Since Covid we eat out only where there is outside dining but prior to that restaurants provided challenges beyond menu options (often very limited and at a risk of cross-contamination of salad ingredients). Food preparation needs to occur on a separate grill away from mammalian food. Smell can sometimes precipitate an episode. Lingering at a restaurant with friends, we were near a large table of guests who had steaming mammal entrees. In time, Alpha Gal symptoms began. Fortunately, she had appropriate medication. Now we go nowhere without epipens.
But the prohibitions go on: .certain kinds of exercise can aggravate symptoms. .the allergist at UNC-CH advised against wearing woolen garments. My wife had recently purchased a long-sought-for woolen jacket. Never worn, it and all other woolen clothing were donated to a local benevolence. .prescription options can become limited. Methods of anesthetization must be consider prior to surgery and dental procedures. Pig heart valves, long a primary replacement in cardiac procedures, must be avoided. .pet dandruff limits options for those who want indoor pets.
While there are no 'cures' for AG, precautions almost to hypervigilance are advised. Gratefully, some assistance for navigating the new terrain have begun to appear. A local restaurant owner who left her business due to her AG later began a catering service featuring safe foods. AlphaGal Kitchen on the web provides numerous recipe options.
Tick season is near. If you have 'possums nearby, protect them as ticks are a part of their menu. Otherwise, take precautions.
Satchel
('Thanks' to my wife who co-authored this post from her personal experiences.)
One of our neighbors and friends what bitten by a tick years ago and still has reactions to various things.
ReplyDeleteThanks to both Wachs for this alert/warning/advice. Sorry that the data collection was so painfully experiential.
ReplyDeleteexcellent .
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the needed advice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of just how serious this can be. We missed seeing you at the restaurant this weekend, but considering the temperatures I wasn't surprised that you chose not to dine al fresco. Hopefully the weather will make up its mind soon so that once again you and Loretta can enjoy the patio.
ReplyDelete