Title: Overview of Bee Sting Reactions and Allergies
Headings: Overview of Bee Sting Reactions and Allergies
Overview of Bee Sting Reactions and Allergies
Overview
Risk Factors
Signs and Symptoms
Insects That Cause Venom Allergies
Honeybees
Africanized (Killer) Honeybees
Bumblebees
Yellow Jackets
Hornets
Wasps
Prevention
Testing
Who Should be Tested
Immediate Treatment of Acute Reactions
Treatment of Future Reactions
After Allergy Shots for Bee Allergy
The Bottom Line

Content: Even so, it's a good idea to understand the risk factors for having an encounter with an insect, to know how to recognize the symptoms that should receive immediate medical attention, and to become familiar with the types of stinging insects so that you can avoid them as much as possible and also be able to tell your doctor if you have a run-in with one. Illustration by Cindy Chung, Verywell
Overview
Most people who are stung by a flying insect such as a honeybee, hornet, or wasp will at the very least develop a reaction at the site of the sting — typically pain, swelling, redness, and itching. But although most people are not allergic to insect stings, thousands of people go to the emergency department or seek medical care for potentially life-threatening reactions to encounters with flying insects each year. What's more, according to a 2013 report by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), the number of people who have allergies to insect stings is on the rise. 1 ﻿
The ACAAI estimates that between 0.4% and 0.8% of children and 3% of adults have severe reactions. What's more, the ACAAI reports that about between 90 and 100 people die from insect sting anaphylaxis each year. 2 ﻿
Risk Factors
Anyone can have a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting. Those who had a systemic reaction previously to a sting are at higher risk of a life-threatening reaction. 3 ﻿
Signs and Symptoms
An anaphylactic reaction to an insect sting—meaning a severe reaction that can be life-threatening—can happen within minutes and can cause any or all of the following symptoms, usually within a matter of minutes to a couple of hours: 4 ﻿
Itching over the entire body
Hives or swelling that spread from the site of the sting
Flushing (reddening of the skin)
A runny nose, sneezing, or postnasal drip
Itchy, watery eyes
Swelling of the lips, tongue, and/or throat
Shortness of breath, wheezing, and/or coughing
Stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Lightheadedness, increase in heart rate, low blood pressure, or passing out
A sense of panic or sense of impending doom
A metallic taste in the mouth
Insects That Cause Venom Allergies
Besides bees (including honeybees, Africanized honeybees, and bumblebees), there are other flying insects that can sting or bite and, in people who are predisposed to them, cause an allergic reaction.