The German Allergy Association estimates that around one to five percent of all adults in Germany have an insect venom allergy. A further quarter react to bee and wasp stings with an increased immune response, usually in the form of red swelling and pain. In children, up to 50 percent suffer a severe reaction to insect stings.
When a bee or wasp stings, it injects an insect venom into the skin with its stinger. This is not only painful, but also causes a small swelling and severe itching in most people. These normal symptoms are harmless.
Allergy sufferers, however, react to the venom with a strong immune response: the body uses all its weapons to defend itself against certain protein components in the insect venom.
Depending on how strong the allergic reaction is, it can even lead to life-threatening disorders in the cardiovascular system.
The insect venom allergy only develops after the first sting and does not exist from birth. How long it takes and when the first allergic reaction occurs can vary greatly.
From sting to sting, the body's own defenses remember the foreign substances from the venom that enter the body. These allergens then attack the immune system with all available means. Experts refer to such an overreaction as an insect venom allergy.
Common triggers are stings from:
- wasps
- bees
- Hornets (in the case of a wasp venom allergy)
- Very rarely also stings from bumblebees, ants or mosquitoes
Those affected usually have swelling around the sting site. In the case of an allergic reaction, the swelling is very severe. It can be more than ten centimeters in diameter and last for around 24 hours. This swelling is accompanied by severe pain, burning or extreme itching.
The swelling under the skin is particularly dangerous when hornets or bees sting in the mouth and throat area. The airways can swell up and in extreme cases there is an acute risk of suffocation.
An anaphylactic reaction, also known as anaphylactic shock, can affect the entire body. There is a wide range of immune reactions to the poison, from mild to life-threatening symptoms.
The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to insect venom:
Whether a person has an allergic reaction to insect venom depends on many factors. Insect venoms contain various allergens to which allergy sufferers react strongly.
- Previous allergic reactions, for example, can trigger the development of an allergy. Anyone who has already had an allergic reaction to insect venom is more likely to do so again the next time they are stung.
- People who have often been stung by hornets, bees or wasps also have an increased likelihood of developing an insect venom allergy. This applies to beekeepers, farmers, gardenersand sellers of fruit, ice cream, desserts or baked goods, for example.
- The risk of developing an insect venom allergy increases with age.
- In addition, certain pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease or mastocytosisfavor aninsect venom allergy.
- Last but not least, medication can exacerbate allergic symptoms: beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors, for example,can significantly increase the individual risk.
If you suspect an insect venom allergy, you should see a doctor immediately, or call an emergency doctor directly if the symptoms are severe.
To make a diagnosis, the doctor will ask you which insect has stung you and what symptoms you have experienced so far. Previous allergy reactions, chronic illnesses, medication and other allergies will also be asked about. This is followed by a physical examination, a blood test and a prick test.
The prick test is a skin test that experts can use to diagnose certain allergies @ Alexander Raths /AdobeStock
- Allergy sufferers should of course avoid any insect bites. If it does happen, a helper or doctor will remove the sting from the skin.
- You should then cool the sting site and use cooling ointments to relieve the itching.
- Antihistamines can help with severe reactions, after which you should consult a doctor.
- If you have been stung by a wasp in the mouth or throat, you should go to a doctor's surgery or call the emergency services immediately.
- In the event of a severe allergic reaction, a period of observation in hospital is necessary. More severe reactions may occur later.
- Allergy sufferers should always have an emergency kit with them. This contains a bronchial spray, an auto-injection syringe with adrenaline to prevent circulatory problems and antihistamines. Helpers or those affected can use these products until the emergency services arrive.
- In some cases, specific immunotherapy can be used in the long term to reduce the insect venom allergy. For hyposensitization, you need to know the exact trigger. During hyposensitization, the doctor gives you a small amount of the allergy-triggering substance as an injection over a longer period of time. This trains the immune system to cope with the allergy-causing substance. Hyposensitization sometimes takes several years. Although it can alleviate the allergy, it cannot completely eradicate it.
Insect venom allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to the venom of wasps, bees or hornets. The sting site becomes very swollen. Further allergic reactions usually follow quickly. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction can occur anywhere on the body in varying degrees of severity.
Insect venom allergy affects around two percent of the adult population. Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions are at a higher risk.
The most important preventative measure is to avoid irritating insects in order to prevent stings. In the event of an allergic reaction, seek medical help quickly.
