From trail to table: How a common South Carolina tick can cause a rare food allergy

WMBF News reports that (WCSC) — A tick bite can do more than cause irritation; for some people, it can lead to a lifelong allergy that changes the way they eat.

Health experts are warning Lowcountry residents about Alpha-Gal syndrome, a rare allergy linked to the Lone Star tick that can cause reactions to red meat and other products from mammals.

The Lone Star tick is the most common tick species in South Carolina and is known to cause Alpha-Gal syndrome, also called red meat allergy.

Ticks are known for spreading illnesses like Lyme disease, but doctors say more people are becoming aware of Alpha-Gal syndrome as cases are identified across the country.

The condition happens when a Lone Star tick bite introduces a sugar called alpha-gal into the body through the tick’s saliva.

For some people, the immune system reacts to that sugar and creates an allergic response.