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For most people, insects like fire
ants, bees, yellow jackets, hornets and wasps are just a summer
nuisance. But for the 2 million people in the United States who
are allergic to their venom, one sting can be life threatening.
“A normal reaction to an insect sting typically means redness,
swelling and itching at the site of the sting, all of which can
be self-treated,” explains John Villacis, M.D., an allergist
with The Austin Diagnostic Clinic. “A person with a severe
allergy may develop symptoms that can cause death in just
minutes and require immediate emergency medical treatment.”
Serious Symptoms
Serious, life-threatening symptoms, referred to collectively as
anaphylactic shock, can affect the whole body. In case of an
insect sting, look for these signs: difficulty breathing,
swelling of the tongue or throat, tightness in the chest,
weakness, nausea, dizziness and severe hives.
“If a person is experiencing any of these symptoms, the fastest
way to treat them is with an injection of epinephrine, a
naturally occurring hormone that increases heart rate and opens
the airways to improve breathing,” says Villacis. “Most people
who know they have a severe allergy carry a small prescription
device (commonly known as an EpiPen™) that can auto-inject
epinephrine into the thigh. If one isn’t available, call 911 or
get to a hospital without delay.”
Although the first line of treatment is epinephrine, people with
known allergies should also carry antihistamine tablets that can
help reduce the effects of a sting and wear an identification
bracelet that states they’re allergic to stinging insects. If
you carry an EpiPen, “have your doctor show you how to use it
and explain how it works to family and friends who are with you
in situations where there is a possibility of a sting,” says
Villacis.
Getting Tested
Most people who are allergic to insect stings don’t have a
life-threatening reaction the first time they’re stung. But if
you’ve had a serious reaction in the past, you may want to talk
to your allergist about allergy testing.
An allergy to insect venom can be confirmed through a simple
skin test. Typically, very small amounts of insect venom are
pricked, scratched or injected into the skin of the arms. The
test can help determine the insects you are allergic to and how
severe the allergy is.
Getting Treated
If you are diagnosed with a severe insect allergy, your doctor
may recommend allergy shots—also called immunotherapy
treatment—to decrease sensitivity to the venom. A patient
receives a series of shots that, over time, contain increasing
amounts of venom.
“Larger and larger doses are given until the patient builds up
enough immunity to tolerate a dose several times larger than a
single insect sting,” explains Villacis. “The vaccination
program, which can take about three to five years, prevents
future life-threatening reactions in about 97 percent of
patients.”
Having a severe reaction to a stinging insect can be
frightening. But understanding how to determine if that reaction
is life-threatening, how to respond and how to prevent future
reactions can help lessen fear and allow you to enjoy all that
summer offers.
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The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) is a multi-specialty clinic
with physicians representing 24 medical specialties at six
locations. To download an electronic version of this release,
visit www.delaune.com/ADC |
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