PLEASE NOTE: Every year, there are several deaths caused by reactions only to stinging hymenoptera stings - wasps, bees, hornets, etc. Interestingly, this number is twice as large as the number of deaths caused by bites of poisonous snakes.
It is estimated that there are several thousand fatal reactions with a life-threatening condition per every fatal case. Deaths caused by bee stings are more numerous than all other deaths caused by other insects.
SYMPTOMS OF ALERGIA IN THE INSECT
Description of a strong and violent generalized reaction to bee bites
While on holiday, a middle-aged man was stung by bees. A few minutes after the sting, he fainted - the wife accompanying him could not feel the pulse - and then began to vomit. Weakness and vomiting lasted no more than a quarter of an hour before he returned to normal condition.
Description of a strong local reaction to the wasp's bite
A 19-year-old young woman spending her holidays in Masuria was stung by wasps. He suffered from a large swelling of the subcutaneous tissue at the injection site, which disappeared the next day under the influence of the antihistamine.
Similar cases can be expected in the summer months
In the temperate climate that occurs in Poland, the most common are allergic reactions to Hymenoptera venom. These include bees (stings occur most often at the beginning of summer), ubiquitous wasps (more aggressive than bees - sting most often in July and August), and also, although very rarely, hornets and less aggressive bumblebees.
Why do we react violently to wasps and bees?
Bee venom is produced by workers and mothers of insects. Venom is toxic and is used to fight and paralyze or kill enemies that are both other insects and larger animals - humans too. Bee's venom flows down a groove in a sting, after inserting it into the skin. It has been found that there are also many substances in the insect venom initiating the allergic reaction of the human body. Os stings cause similar symptoms, like bee stings.
What venom components cause an allergic reaction?
They include mellitin, affecting, among others, on the release of mediators of allergic reaction - histamine, activating mast cells in a specific way, or apamin, a special mast cell-degrading peptide and triggering histamine release. In the venom itself, there is also histamine, which, as we know, causes a violent allergic reaction.
The body's response to insect venom can be local or general
Localized, i.e. limited to skin edema and urticaria at the sting site or general. The latter may be manifested by malaise, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness and even temporary loss of consciousness. Some of these symptoms were characterized by the man's response to bee venom described above.
How do we describe the case of a man who was bee bitten during the holidays?
In the case of a man, venom caused a typical general (anaphylactic) reaction of medium severity. In drastic cases, the so-called anaphylactic shock with a drop in blood pressure, collapse, loss of consciousness. It is necessary then that the doctor immediately intervenes to save the patient's life, because in some cases the person poisoned may die.
Histamine and allergy
REACTION FOR INSECTS
What is the body's reaction to the allergen, which is the insect venom?
The body's response to insect venom may be local, limited to edema and urticaria at the sting site or general.
What is the local reaction to insect venom?
The local reaction is limited to the skin and is usually manifested by pain, burning, swelling, congestion, pruritus. It may be a small and not too severe or a strong and painful local reaction. Venom poison and venom of bees, despite some differences in chemical composition, have similar effects and can cause large local reactions. The hornet's venom has an even stronger effect. The case of a stingy wasp poison is a typical example of a significant local reaction. Different local reactions consisting of swelling, erythema and infiltration that last more than a day may be a manifestation of delayed hypersensitivity.
Generalized reaction - medium intensity
A generalized reaction to insect venom (general) may be manifested by: malaise, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness and even temporary loss of consciousness. Some of these symptoms were characterized by the man's response to bee venom described above.
In drastic cases, the so-called anaphylactic shock with a drop in blood pressure, collapse, loss of consciousness. It is necessary then that the doctor immediately intervenes to save the patient's life, because in some cases the person poisoned may die.
Are there sometimes other symptoms of reaction to insect bites that are dangerous to health?
Other symptoms of allergy to insect venom than shock include: shortness of breath, runny nose, urticaria and diarrhea. Sometimes (rarely) a heart attack or stroke is also observed. Very often, one person has two or even more of these symptoms, eg general reaction and local reaction.
WARNING! PLEASE PROTECT AGAIN BEFORE¡THOSE INSECTS!
Direct stinging of the wasp, or bee sting in the tongue, gums and the action of venom on the oral mucosa, tongue or esophagus is very dangerous for everyone, as it can be strangled! This can happen when by accident, along with food (fruit, bread spread with jam, etc.) a small child or an adult, puts a wasp or bee in his mouth! Immediate medical help is necessary !!!
Are toxins from insect venom dangerous to health?
Some local symptoms are a reaction to toxins of insect venom. Acute pain, rapidly growing redness and swelling, sometimes having a diameter of up to 10 cm, persisting up to 24 hours and longer is a reaction to substances contained in the venom. If there are a lot of simultaneous stings (according to some authors over 50, according to others - over 150), then there are toxic reactions, causing, among others, kidney damage.
How to protect yourself against insect bites?
It is difficult to avoid contact with insects in a meadow or forest, but it is best not to irritate insects. One should also avoid walking barefoot on the grass - because the nests of many species of the Osowa family are sometimes located in earth cavities. Let's also try to eliminate the wasps from the surroundings. It is enough to carefully cover food products, not leaving them on top, especially fruit and sweets, and removing from the vicinity of the house the beginnings of the nest nests. Secondly - if we are particularly exposed to bees and wasps bites - the causative treatment of their venom is based on immunotherapy or desensitization.
ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA
consultation of prof. dr hab. med. Andrzej Danysz
