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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Anaphylaxis after a tick bite, was it the tick or something else?

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    Allergy Immunology
    My son had a full anaphylactic reaction immediately after removing a tick, which quickly responded to epinephrine autoinjector, it was his first ever allergic reaction. Since then he has had ticks with no reaction and has developed hives and puffy eyelids after being out in the bush without a tick bite. I am puzzled - what is he allergic to and is there a test he can have to find out? Now he carries an epinephrine autoinjector everywhere but it's unnerving not knowing if it was the tick or some other environmental agent.
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  • Dr Liam Beiglari

    Allergy Specialist & Immunologist

    I am a clinical immunologist and allergist. I am experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with allergic diseases, autoimmune conditions, those living … View Profile

    The first thing that stands out to me from this description is that it's plausible he could have had a reaction to the alpha-gal allergen present in ticks. This is an increasingly recognized cause of anaphylaxis, and it certainly would require him to continue to carry his epipen. It's possible that this allergy wanes over time, so if there was a sufficient amount of time in between the initial reaction and then subsequent tick bites, he may have lost the allergy. It's also increasingly recognised allergic reaction, and it tends to place patients at risk of mammalian meat allergy. There is a blood test available for this, which may be indicated based on specialist assessment. Ultimately I'd recommend that he see an allergist.

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