Man dies hours after eating burger as researchers confirm fatal allergy

A New Jersey man’s decease is the archetypal known to beryllium linked to a tick-borne nutrient allergy, according to researchers astatine UVAHealth successful Virginia.

The unidentified man, 47, reportedly died past summertime 4 hours aft eating a hamburger — conscionable 2 weeks aft a akin occurrence triggered by steak.

With the summertime episode, the antheral experienced terrible abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting aft eating the steak, a UVAHealth property merchandise detailed.

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The incidental was initially reported arsenic "sudden unexplained death," until UVA Health’s Thomas Platts-Mills, M.D., Ph.D., determined that the antheral suffered a fatal allergic reaction.

The findings were published successful The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

A New Jersey man’s decease is the archetypal known to beryllium linked to a tick-borne nutrient allergy, according to researchers astatine UVAHealth successful Virginia. (iStock)

The allergy, Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) — besides known arsenic "red-meat allergy" oregon the "tick wound nutrient allergy" — is caused by the wound of the Lone Star tick, which is recovered chiefly successful Southeastern and Eastern states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The tick’s saliva contains a sweetener molecule called alpha-gal, which is injected into the assemblage with the bite. This triggers allergies to definite types of reddish nutrient (primarily pork, beef, rabbit, lamb oregon venison) oregon products made from mammals (including cheese, milk, different dairy products and gelatin).

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When radical devour immoderate foods containing the allergens, they tin acquisition superior allergy symptoms wrong a fewer hours, though immoderate whitethorn lone person mild reactions.

Symptoms whitethorn see rash, nausea and vomiting aft eating beef, pork oregon lamb, according to researchers. Some whitethorn besides acquisition itchy oregon scaly skin; swelling of the lips, face, lingua and throat; and wheezing oregon shortness of breath, according to Mayo Clinic.

The allergy, Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) — besides known arsenic "red-meat allergy" oregon the "tick wound nutrient allergy" — is caused by the wound of the Lone Star tick. (iStock)

Although fatal anaphylaxis has been noted arsenic a uncommon hazard successful terrible cases, the New Jersey man’s decease was the archetypal to beryllium attributed to the allergy.

Other factors that whitethorn person contributed to his terrible reaction, according to Platts-Mills, see a brew helium drank with his burger, his vulnerability to ragweed pollen and caller exercise.

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"The important accusation for the nationalist is: First, that terrible abdominal symptom occurring 3 to 5 hours aft eating beef, pork oregon lamb should beryllium investigated arsenic a imaginable occurrence of anaphylaxis; and, second, that tick bites that itch for much than a week oregon larvae of ticks often called ‘chiggers’ tin induce oregon summation sensitization to mammalian-derived meat," said Platts-Mills, erstwhile main of UVA Health’s Division of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, successful the release.

"On the different hand, astir individuals who person mild to mean episodes of hives tin power symptoms with an due diet."

The tick’s saliva contains a sweetener molecule called alpha-gal, which is injected into the assemblage with the bite. This triggers allergies to definite types of reddish meat. (iStock)

A diagnosis of AGS requires antibody investigating and a objective exam. Many patients look a agelong roadworthy to diagnosis — an mean of 7 years, according to Dr. Johanna Salzer, CDC epidemiologist and writer of a 2023 study connected AGS.

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"And to get diagnosed, they person to person entree to an allergist," Salzer antecedently told Fox News Digital. "For galore people, determination are barriers to get that level of treatment."

When idiosyncratic is diagnosed with AGS, the idiosyncratic whitethorn person it for a lifetime.

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"However, for immoderate people, if they region the foods from their fare that tin reactivate Alpha Gal syndrome, implicit time, their antibody levels whitethorn drop," the adept said.

Currently, determination is nary attraction oregon cure for AGS — though physicians tin assistance patients negociate their symptoms.

When radical devour immoderate foods containing the allergens, they tin acquisition superior allergy symptoms wrong a fewer hours, though immoderate whitethorn lone person mild reactions. (iStock)

"There are a fig of things [that] healthcare providers tin supply to alleviate symptoms depending connected the patients’ idiosyncratic reactions," Salzer said.

"Those with much terrible reactions are administered Epi-Pens successful lawsuit they spell into anaphylactic shock."

Prevention tips

To support against tick bites, Salzer recommends applying EPA-approved insect repellent — those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) oregon 2-undecanone — whenever going into an country wherever tick bites are a possibility.

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Wearing long-sleeved shirts, agelong pants and socks, on with avoiding grassy, brushy and wooded areas, tin besides assistance to forestall bites.

"When returning from an country that is known to person ticks, beryllium definite to ablution and bash a precise thorough check," Salzer advised.

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Platts-Mills urged doctors and patients who unrecorded successful areas wherever Lone Star ticks are communal to beryllium alert of the risk. 

"More specifically, if they person unexpected episodes of terrible abdominal symptom occurring respective hours aft eating mammalian meat, they should beryllium investigated for imaginable sensitization to the oligosaccharide alpha-gal," helium added.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the researchers for comment.