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Episode 15 - How Tick Bites Can Trigger a Life-Threatening Meat Allergy
Description
Can a tick bite make you allergic to steak?
In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu explain Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a rapidly emerging food allergy caused by tick bites that can trigger delayed allergic reactions—even life-threatening anaphylaxis—hours after eating red meat.
They discuss:
• The immunology behind alpha-gal syndrome
• Why symptoms are delayed
• How the condition was first discovered
• Current diagnostic strategies
• Tick prevention
• Emerging treatments under investigation
• Common myths and misinformation surrounding alpha-gal
As the geographic range of lone star ticks continues to expand, awareness of alpha-gal syndrome has never been more important.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and share it with someone who spends time outdoors—or anyone interested in the science behind food allergies.