Insect Sting Allergy

Posted on February 22, 2008 in Latest News

Over 2 million Americans suffer from Insect Sting Allergy. Stinging insects like Bees, Hornets, Fire Ants, Yellow Jackets and Wasps are a common cause of insect sting allergy. It is reported that about 50-150 deaths occur every year due to insect stings. Although many people just feel local itching and swelling after insect stings but some people are subjected to severe allergic reactions.

Causes
Insect Sting Allergy occurs primarily when our immune system overreacts to the insect saliva that enters our body through the sting.

Symptoms
Pain, redness and swelling at the site of the sting
Swelling at spanning two joints
Intense itching
Faintness
Sweating
Pounding headache
Stomach cramps
Vomiting
Tight chest
Choking sensation
Feeling of impending doom
Anaphylactic shock
Death

The following symptoms may develop within 10 minutes of the sting.

Emergency Treatment
For mild reactions you could give a double dose of oral anti-histamine i.e. 8mg Chlorpheniramine (Piriton) to both children and adults. You could also give 10mg of intra-mascular administration. You can also use Salbutamol and oral corticosteroids.  For severe reactions with respiratory difficulties and shock Intra muscular aderenaline (1:1000) 0.5 ml administration should be administered. Intra-muscular Chlorpheniramine 10mg and intra-muscular Hydrocortisone 200mg are also good choices.

Prevention
People who have been susceptible to severe reactions should carry medications like Epipen Adrenaline injector, Antihistamine medications or Prednisilone. Venom Desensitization Immunotherapy has been proven very successful for treating people with generalized venom allergic reactions. With immunotherapy, at the end of the treatment, a person would be able to tolerate 100ug of venom which is equivalent of two bee or wasp stings, with no adverse reaction.

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