The CDC is reporting that meat allergies associated with tick bites are increasing. There are more than 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) that have been identified in association with tick bites. But because this diagnosis needs a positive test and a clinical exam, and some people are not teated, the government is estimating that there may be as many as 450,000 Americans affected by AGS. AGS is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It is also known as the tick bite meat allergy or the red-meat allergy. Knowledge about this reaction is low. The CDC says evidence is growing that AGS is associated with the bite of the lone star tick, but other types of ticks have not been ruled out. The midwestern, mid-Atlantic, and southern regions of the United States … [Read more...]