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: Overview of Bee Sting Reactions and Allergies
Allergies
Animal & Insect Allergies
Overview of Bee Sting Reactions and Allergies
By
Daniel More, MD
Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our editorial process
Daniel More, MD
Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD on September 14, 2020
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Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with a focus on allergic skin disorders, asthma, and other immune disorders. Learn about our Medical Review Board
Corinne Savides Happel, MD
Updated on October 01, 2020
If you've ever been stung by a flying insect — a honeybee, hornet, wasp, yellow jacket, or fire ant — you already know how your body responds: Some people have relatively mild reactions to insect bites or stings, while others are highly allergic and have potentially life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis such as wheezing and swelling of the tongue and throat that make it hard to breathe. But if you've never been bitten or stung, how it might affect you may be a mystery — and not one you necessarily want to solve. 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.