Insect allergies are usually caused by the sting of several types of insects. Wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and honeybees can all sting, and their stingers can inject venom into the skin of the person that they have stung. There are other kinds of insects that can sting as well, leaving venom in the skin. This venom can cause an allergic reaction that can be mild or which can be life-threatening. Anaphylaxis related to bee stings requires immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of insect allergies are:
Anaphylaxis is a much more serious kind of allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention after an insect sting. This condition has symptoms such as:
Anaphylaxis can happen the first time that you are stung by an insect, or it might happen following a repeated series of stings. Being stung more than once on the same day can also predispose you to have an anaphylactic reaction.
Insect stingers can inject venom into the skin. When your body realises that there is a foreign substance that has invaded, it will mount an immune attack against the venom. This immune response can be small and mild, or it can be quite severe, as in the case of anaphylaxis. Most people have very mild symptoms the first time that they are stung by an insect, but the reaction of the body can be much worse if they are stung again in the future.
The risk factors for insect allergies are:
Diagnosis of an insect allergy is often made by inspecting the sting and taking a medical history. If the symptoms are fairly mild, no further treatment will be recommended. However, if the symptoms of the sting are more severe, your doctor might order a skin-prick test. This test is administered at a doctor’s office, and a small, sterile probe is used to place venom from an insect type into a small prick in the skin. If the skin responds by getting red and irritated, a blood sample or skin scraping is sent to the lab to see if your body produced the immunoglobulin E for insect venom.
Anaphylactic reactions are considered enough to indicate a severe allergy to the insect that stung you. You will not need further testing to prove that this is the reason for your allergic reaction.
Prevention of insect sting allergies involves avoiding contact with insects that cause your allergic reaction. You can wear insecticide when you go outside in areas where these insects might be, or you can avoid being outside at certain times of the day. Avoiding some insects is easier than avoiding others, so you should pay close attention during popular seasons of the year or in some places where the insects you are allergic to are most common.
The treatment for mild insect allergies will usually include an antihistamine to block histamine production, which causes most of the symptoms related to your allergic reaction. You might also be given corticosteroids to help reduce swelling and pain at the site of the sting.
If you have anaphylaxis, however, your treatment will be different. This is a medical emergency, and you will be given a dose of epinephrine right away. You will likely also be admitted to the hospital for observation until your condition has stabilised. Those who have suffered an allergic reaction in the past will be advised to carry an epi-pen with them at all times in case they suffer an insect sting again.