Understanding Bee Sting Allergies -- the Basics
For most people, the venom from a bee or wasp sting causes little more than local swelling, pain, and redness, which usually go away within several hours. Some people, however, are allergic to elements in the venom and have more severe reactions, which can range from extended swelling to potentially deadly anaphylactic shock.
The process of sting-induced allergies is poorly understood. Like other allergies, being allergic to stings appears to run in families. And there has been an increase over the past decade of people having anaphylactic reactions.
Staying Active and in Control Despite Their Allergies
For people who have allergies, the challenges of remaining physically active can easily outweigh the benefits to their health and mental well-being. Running, swimming, and even gardening -- how enjoyable can these activities be when just taking a breath is so exhausting? But having seasonal allergies doesn't mean you have to become a shut-in. Nor does it mean, even in environments where pollen and other irritants are plentiful, that you have to give up exercise. "Allergies are not a disability,”...
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A person may be stung many times during his lifetime -- and have only normal reactions -- then suddenly one sting will produce a strong allergic reaction. Doctors are not sure why a person develops such sensitivity or why the sensitivity may last longer in some people than in others.
Allergic reactions may produce extensive swelling. For about 3% of adults, however, a sting can trigger anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Painful hives and swelling may progress rapidly to block off airways, causing circulatory collapse and, sometimes, death. In the U.S., about 50 people die each year from sting-induced anaphylactic shock. Half of these deaths occur in people who never before had a severe reaction to a sting.
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