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Why Some People Experience Allergic Reactions To Bee Stings
Different people tend to suffer from different allergies and one of the most recurring allergies is a bee sting allergy.
People suffering form allergic reactions to bee stings usually have a high sensitivity to bee stings, and this itself includes a physical reaction in the body. Sometimes, these allergic reactions to bee stings may prove to be life threatening.
It has been found out that the number of people who die from severe allergic reactions to bee stings is more than the number of people who suffer from snake bites. However, it is only a few people who suffer from allergic reactions to bee stings who actually suffer from fatal reactions that lead to possible death.
It is when the immune system of the body develops antibodies and other disease fighting cells in the body, in response to an allergen that an allergic reaction develops.
Here, the allergen is the bee sting. Chemicals are released by the antibodies that injure surrounding cells to cause the physical symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Sometimes histamine is released, which may affect the skin, mucous gland or membrane or smooth muscle cells.
Sometimes there may be life threatening allergic reactions that occur without any other symptoms of allergy.
Usually the first sting does not produce severe reactions; multiple stings do. It is someone who has severe allergic reactions to bee stings that experiences extreme symptoms to a single bee sting.
The basic symptoms of this allergy start with dry cough wherein the eye starts itching and swelling. After some time, the patient starts sneezing and wheezing, to develop itching hives.
These symptoms are indications of a dangerous condition, anaphylaxis which proceed to produce sudden weakness, tightness in the chest, difficulty in breathing, very low blood pressure, shock and loss of consciousness.
Those suffering from anaphylactic shock should receive immediate medical treatment.
The symptoms that follow a bee sting make it possible for one to diagnose bee sting allergies. Epinephrine injection is given to the patient suffering from anaphylactic shock to stimulate the heart and relax the airways.
Sometimes this injection is given with an antihistamine injection to counteract the histamine that is produced in the immune cells.
If you suffer from allergic reactions to bee stings, avoid situations where you may get stung. If you have to go to such locations, carry a self-injection kit with antihistamine tablets for emergency treatment.
People who are severely allergic to bee stings have to undergo desensitization programs where bee venom injections are administered in increasing doses till the body shows tolerance to the venom.
This should be done by an allergy specialist, and may take somewhere between 15 to 20 weeks for the body to develop immunity. This is then followed with monthly booster shots.