Key points
- Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy that can occur after a tick bite.
- There are no vaccines to prevent AGS.
- Manage symptoms by avoiding foods and products that contain alpha-gal, preventing future tick bites, and getting urgent care when needed.
Everyday life
If you have been diagnosed with AGS, you and your allergist or other healthcare provider can successfully manage your symptoms to prevent additional allergic reactions.
- Identify and avoid products containing alpha-gal.
- carefully.
- Prevent future tick bites. New tick bites may reactivate allergic reactions to alpha-gal.
- Talk to your healthcare provider before taking a new medication or receiving a vaccine. Although very rare, some people with severe AGS may react to ingredients in certain vaccines and medications.
Some people with AGS who avoid additional tick bites may be able to tolerate eating meat again. This is an individualized medical decision. Get guidance from your healthcare provider.
Things to avoid
Most healthcare providers recommend patients with AGS stop eating meat from mammals, such as beef, pork, lamb, venison, or rabbit. Food products that contain milk and milk products may also contain alpha-gal. Some people with AGS may also be sensitive to alpha-gal in gelatin and other products made or cooked with mammal fat.
Work with your healthcare provider to understand which products containing alpha-gal you should avoid. Not all patients with AGS have reactions to every ingredient containing alpha-gal.
Prevent future tick bites
Prevent tick bites because new tick bites may reactivate allergic reactions to alpha-gal.
- Use with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.
- Wear clothing and gear treated with 0.5% permethrin clothing and gear spray.
- Shower and check for ticks after coming indoors.
Tips on using permethrin
Emergency care
AGS reactions and symptoms can range from mild or severe, and some may be life-threatening.
When to seek emergency care
Your healthcare provider may have prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector (“EpiPen”) and taught you how to recognize anaphylaxis and how to use the EpiPen. People who need to use an EpiPen should still seek emergency care.