Tick Bite-Associated New Disease: Alpha-Gal Allergy

Abstract

In recent years, two distinct clinical conditions have been defined due to immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies induced by tick bite against Alpha gal, an oligosaccharide found in mammalian meat. The first one is late-onset (after 3-6 hours) IgE-mediated systemic hypersensitivity reactions after red meat consumption, while the second is immediate anaphylaxis during the first minutes of cetuximab infusion. As well as infectious diseases associated with tick bites that can be seen in our country, Alpha gal allergy should be kept in mind, and the awareness of physicians should be increased.