Social media helps and hurts when it comes to allergy and asthma education

(Press-News.org) ORLANDO (Nov. 6, 2025) – From rare tick-borne meat allergy to everyday asthma, millions of people turn to social media for health advice. But new research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando reveals that while these platforms give patients a voice, they also amplify misinformation – and posts that get the most attention are often not the most accurate.

One study looked at social media videos about alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a growing condition caused by Lone Star tick bites that can trigger severe allergic reactions to meat. Researchers analyzed the top 100 videos under the hashtag “alphagal” and found that only 15 were created by physicians – and most of the doctors were not allergists. Despite this, physician-made videos received more likes and comments than those from non-physicians, which tended to be shorter and anecdotal. The findings highlight the potential power of allergists to share accurate, relatable information in a space where patients are eager to engage.

“Alpha-gal is confusing for patients, and many turn to social media for guidance,” said allergist Nadia Hamid, MD, ACAAI member and lead author of the study. “While personal stories are valuable, there’s also a lot of misinformation. When allergists and other doctors step in, their content resonates – suggesting a real opportunity to improve public understanding.”

A second study examined TikTok videos about asthma, a more common condition. Of the 40 most-liked English-language videos posted in 2024 under #asthma, more than one in four contained inaccurate or misleading claims. Among the most concerning myths: that asthma can be cured with breathing exercises or that caffeine combined with asthma inhalers could be fatal. Alarmingly, these misleading, inaccurate videos were more popular, receiving over three times as many likes as accurate ones.

Most asthma-related videos were created by non-physicians, and overall quality scores were low. According to the researchers, this reflects both the popularity of anecdotal health content and the relative scarcity of physician voices on the platform.

“TikTok and other platforms offer incredible opportunities to reach patients where they are,” said Ishitha Jagadish, MD, medical resident and lead author of the study. “But right now, misinformation about asthma is not only widespread, it’s more engrossing than accurate content. We need more allergy and asthma experts online to present science-based, engaging content.”

Together, the two studies underscore both the promise and the pitfalls of social media as a health information source. Patient stories can provide comfort and community, but without the presence of medical experts, myths spread quickly – and can influence health behaviors in dangerous ways.

Abstract Title: The Tick Talks: A Qualitative Analysis of #AlphaGal Content on a Social Video Sharing Platform (Full abstract below)

Presenter: Nadia Hamid, MD

Abstract Title: Misinformation Goes Viral: Assessing Asthma-Related TikTok Content (Full abstract below)

Presenter: Ishitha Jagadish, MD

For more information about diagnosis and treatment of allergies and asthma, or to find an allergist in your area, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. The ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting is Nov. 6-10. For more news and research from the ACAAI Scientific Meeting, go to our newsroom and follow the conversation on X/Twitter #ACAAI25.

About ACAAI

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. Founded in 1942, the College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy, and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Threads and X.

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THE TICK TALKS: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF #ALPHAGAL CONTENT ON A SOCIAL VIDEO SHARING PLATFORM

N. Hamid *1, N. LaGrega2, M. Love (F)1, 1. Kansas City, KS; 2. Columbia, MO.

Introduction: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging, tick-borne condition in which individuals develop hypersensitivity reactions to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), a carbohydrate found in non-primate mammalian meat following a tick bite. As awareness grows, social media has become a popular platform for patient storytelling, peer education, and even medical misinformation. Here, we analyzed themes, accuracy, and engagement patterns of AGS social media videos to identify opportunities for public health communication.

Methods: AGS, english-language videos on a single social media platform were analyzed. The top 100 videos from the hashtag query "alphagal” were analyzed. Videos were coded using a structured rubric for author source, thematic content, and engagement metrics (video length, likes, comments).

Results: A total of 5,572 videos were available with the hashtags “alphagal”, “alphagalsyndrome”, and “alphagalallergy. There were 9 hours, 8 minutes of content. Only 15 of the top 100 videos were created by physicians, most of whom were not allergists (more than 50%). Physician videos averaged 2:32 minutes in length, 31,526 likes, and 830 comments - demonstrating higher engagement than the 85 videos by nonphysicians, which averaged 1:55 minutes, 9,219 likes, 202 comments and were mostly anecdotal. Aside from allergists, there were videos made by physicians in gastroenterology, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
Conclusion: Social media content related to AGS reflects valuable patient narratives but is also a source of misinformation. Clinician engagement, particularly by allergists, presents an important opportunity for accurate, empathetic public education on this complex and growing allergic disease.

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MISINFORMATION GOES VIRAL: ASSESSING ASTHMA-RELATED TIKTOK CONTENT

I. Jagadish*1, M. Mohammad2, R. Ablao2, A. Gonzalez-Estrada3, 1. Phoenix, AZ; 2. Chandler, AZ; 3. Scottsdale, AZ.

Introduction: TikTok is an increasingly influential platform for health information, including asthma content. While it offers novel educational opportunities, it also spreads misinformation that may jeopardize patient safety. This study evaluates the accuracy, quality, and engagement of high-visibility TikTok videos about asthma and identifies recurring misconceptions compared to evidence-based guidelines.
Methods: A cross-sectional content analysis was performed on English-language TikTok videos under the hashtag #asthma, posted between January and December 2024. The 40 most-liked videos with at least 40 likes were included. Videos were independently reviewed by two Internal Medicine residents using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and a modified DISCERN tool. Content was categorized by creator type and video theme. DISCERN scores were grouped as Low (≤32), Moderate (33-50), or High (51-75). Engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares) were compared between accurate and misleading videos. Cohen’s kappa assessed interrater reliability.
Results: Eleven videos (26%) contained partially or fully inaccurate information. Common myths included claims that asthma can be cured with breathing exercises or that caffeine combined with asthma inhalers may cause death. Misleading videos received higher median likes (1,266) than accurate ones (375). Most videos (78%) were created by non-physicians, while only 22% were made by physicians. The mean GQS was 3.02 and the mean DISCERN score was 31.80, with Cohen’s kappa of 0.16 and 0.30, respectively.
Conclusions: Asthma-related misinformation is prevalent on TikTok and tends to receive more engagement than accurate content. Greater clinician presence on social media is needed to promote evidence-based asthma education.

 

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