Insect Sting Allergies: Who Is Affected - Topic Overview
It is not clear how many people are allergic to insect sting venom, because testing is usually not done until after a first allergic reaction. In other words, you may be allergic to an insect sting and not know it because you haven't been stung by that insect yet.
In the United States, around 15% of adults have mild, localized allergic reactions to insect stings.1 More serious, systemic (whole-body) reactions occur in about 3% of adults and less than 1% of children.1
Q: Atlanta is beautiful in the spring, but my allergies are so bad! Will moving to the desert make them go away? A: Ragweed and grass pollens are triggers that are difficult to avoid almost everywhere in the continental United States during the spring and summer. Although much of Arizona and New Mexico is arid, most people in the cities, suburbs, and small towns grow grass for lawns. Plus, the land has been disturbed by construction and landscaping, so weeds are widespread. Las Vegas, Tucson,...
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Allergies to insect stings cause around 40 deaths a year in the U.S., usually in adults over the age of 45, although some are young children.2
It is difficult to predict whether you will have allergic reactions to future stings. Once you develop an allergy to an insect's venom, it may become more severe each time you are stung, or you may not have an allergic reaction to the next sting-especially if you received treatment for the first sting allergy. Insect sting allergies may decline or fade over time, particularly in children.
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