HERMANN — Tick bites have become more than a nuisance for an increasing number of Gasconade County residents. They have turned into a serious health issue, one that potentially could be life-threatening for those diagnosed with the so-called “red-meat allergy.”

Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is the formal name for the condition, which is triggered in some people by a tick bite. At this time, the lone star tick (which displays a white dot on its back) is the only known culprit, but health officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have not ruled out other tick species as bringing about the onset of the ailment.

AGS has not been widely considered as a public health issue — until recently. Dr. Michael Rothemich, chief of the medical staff at Hermann Area District Hospital, recently confirmed to the Gasconade County Republican that AGS is on the rise in this region.

“It’s a serious issue,” he said, noting that a workshop for medical professionals has been held by Quest, a company that performs diagnostic testing for medical facilities and businesses, to discuss AGS and how to treat patients diagnosed with the condition.

However, Gasconade County Health Department Administrator Kenna Fricke told the Republican that her agency has not seen any cases of AGS.

According to the CDC, alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in the meat of most mammals but not found in fish, reptiles, birds or people. For people suffering from the allergy, their diet of meat products can be severely restricted to fish or fowl.

But that appears to be changing for some.

More on that shortly.

The CDC reports that between 2010 and 2022, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified. However, a more exact number of cases is not known because AGS is not routinely reported to the CDC. The agency said more research is needed to obtain a more-accurate number of cases.

AGS, like many other allergies, affect people differently. There are many symptoms of AGS: Hives or an itchy rash; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea; cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing; a drop in blood pressure; swelling of the lips, throat, tongue and eye lids; dizziness or faintness; severe stomach pain.

But as with other illnesses, such as COVID, some people do not have any of the symptoms (asymptomatic). For instance, Gasconade County Clerk Lesa Lietzow, who disclosed during a County Commission session two weeks ago that she developed the allergy after a tick bite early this summer.

Lietzow said her doctor, located in Jefferson City, quickly diagnosed AGS after looking at the site of the tick bite.

“She took one look at the red spot and knew right away what it was,” Lietzow told the Republican. “Apparently, they had a lot of it in the Jefferson City area,” she said. Her doctor’s diagnosis was confirmed through a blood test.

Lietzow said she has yet to experience any of the symptoms, noting that she continues to eat whatever meat items she wishes.

“I’m a meat-and-potatoes gal,” she said, adding that she couldn’t imagine not having meat as part of a meal.

But for some, keeping meat off the menu is not an option. The Republican has learned of at least one Gasconade County resident who developed the allergy and since then has become ill after eating all but one type of meat cooked one way — grilled chicken.

The CDC notes that if a person does have the allergy, symptoms often will occur 2 to 6 hours after eating meat or dairy products. (The alpha-gal molecule also is found in dairy products, the CDC reported.)

Also, a person with the allergy might not experience a reaction after every alpha-gal exposure.

The CDC advises that if you think you might have the allergy you should see an allergist or other healthcare professional and have a blood test that looks for antibodies produced to fight the alpha-gal molecule.

AGS affects primarily adults and is seen predominantly in the South, East and Central United States.