Bee and wasp sting allergy

What it is

A sting allergy is an allergic reaction to the venom of a stinging insect.¹ Stings from five insects are known to cause allergic reactions: honeybees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets and fire ants.¹ Most insect stings in the United States come from wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and honeybees.¹

These insects sting in different ways. Honeybees have barbed stingers that stay behind in the skin.¹ Yellow jackets, hornets and wasps can sting repeatedly.¹

Potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to insect venom are estimated to occur in 0.4 to 0.8 percent of children and 3 percent of adults.¹ A sting allergy can appear even after many normal reactions to stings, and at any age.¹

Symptoms it causes

Reactions to a sting range from normal to allergic. A normal reaction is pain, swelling and redness confined to the sting site.¹

A large local reaction causes swelling that extends beyond the sting site, generally more than 3 inches around it. The swelling usually peaks two to three days after the sting and can last a week or more.¹

The most serious reaction to a sting is an allergic one, and it shows up away from the sting itself. Signs can include hives, itching and swelling in areas other than the sting site; stomach cramps, vomiting, intense nausea or diarrhea; tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing; and a hoarse voice, swelling of the tongue or throat, or difficulty swallowing.¹

Anaphylaxis, an even more severe allergic reaction, can begin within minutes of a sting and may be life-threatening. Its signs can include dizziness, a sharp drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness or cardiac arrest.¹

A past reaction matters. People who have had an allergic reaction to an insect sting have a 60% chance of a similar or worse reaction if stung again.¹ An allergist can test for sting allergy; intradermal skin tests show whether someone is allergic to insect stings.²

Where it’s found

Stinging insects are most active during late spring, summer and early fall.¹

Each insect has its own haunts. Yellow jackets nest in the ground and in walls, while hornets and wasps nest in bushes, in trees and on buildings.¹ Open garbage cans and exposed food at picnics attract yellow jackets.¹ Honeybees and bumblebees forage on white clover, a weed that grows in lawns throughout the country.¹ ACAAI notes that insect repellents do not work against stinging insects.¹