What is an insect sting allergy?
An allergic reaction to stinging insects is known as a Hymenoptera allergy or Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA). These stings could include anything from fire ant and bee stings to wasp and hornet stings. If you are stung by an insect and experience an allergic reaction, your immune system is overreacting to the venom from the sting.
What are the symptoms of a Hymenoptera allergy?
If you have allergic reactions to stinging insects, the symptoms you experience may not be the same as the symptoms others experience. Severe reactions are known as anaphylaxis and can be life threatening. Be aware of your symptoms and seek immediate medical attention if any of the final four symptoms below are present.
- Itching
- Swelling
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dizziness
- Drop in blood pressure
How is a Hymenoptera allergy diagnosed and treated?
When diagnosing Hymenoptera allergy, an allergist will likely ask for a full history of any insect stings that you have had. This could include questions about the symptoms and how long the symptoms were present, as well as any treatment that was needed. To provide the most concise diagnosis, a skin or blood test may be performed.
If your allergist diagnoses you with Hymenoptera allergy, there a few different treatment options that may be presented to you. The treatment options will depend on the severity of your allergic reaction. For non-anaphylactic cases of stinging insect allergy, an antihistamine or corticosteroid may be recommended. For more severe cases, an EpiPen may be prescribed. A way to cure you of your Hymenoptera allergy would be immunotherapy to the insect venom you are allergic to.