The questions most people ask about insect allergy are: How do I know if I’m allergic to insect stings? How can I tell if my child is allergic to them?
No one experiences a life-threatening reaction the first time they’re stung. A severe local reaction, however – exaggerated swelling, nausea, weakness and so forth – is almost a certain harbinger of potential and more severe systemic reactions. And, as is the case with other types of allergy, whether or not you ever experience that ominous first reaction depends on a number of factors:
What Bit You. Anyone who is allergic to bees is apt to be allergic to wasps, hornets and ants. However, the potency of insect venom varies from species to species, so some can cause more of a problem for you than others.
The Amount of Venom. Naturally, the more venom injected the more chance for a reaction. And more stings mean more venom. But venom levels can also vary for other reasons. In the early spring and late autumn, for instance, honey-bees carry around far less venom than they do at the peak of summer.
Other Allergy. Nearly one-third of people who are allergic to insects are allergic to drugs, especially drugs that are injected, like penicillin. Other than that, coexisting allergy doesn’t seem to have much bearing on susceptibility to insect stings.
Your General State of Health. Although it has no bearing on whether or not you’re allergic to insects in the first place, your general state of health may influence how well you tolerate a sting or bite. If you’ve ever had a run-in with any insect that resulted in anything more than a slight swelling, you should be on your guard against future encounters. And you should tell your doctor all the details. Don’t be macho – mild reactions are the best clues for predicting life-threatening reactions and shouldn’t be played down. The information can save your life.
Your doctor will also need to know what bit you. The problem is, most of us don’t know one insect from another and assume anything that stings is simply a bee. So if you possibly can, take the insect’s body to the doctor with you, even if it’s squashed. Lacking a body as evidence, some doctors stock photos of common stinging and biting insects – rather like mug shots used to help identify criminals.
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