Insect Sting Allergy

Grass Allergies

Many people experience insect stings every year. For most of them, these stings only cause mild pain and discomfort lasting for just a period of hours. Symptoms might include swelling, itching, and redness at the sting site. However, some people are allergic to insect stings. When they are stung by an insect to which they are allergic, their bodies produce an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which reacts with the insect venom and triggers the release of various chemicals, including histamine, that cause the allergic reaction. Patients with a greater degree of allergy to insect stings present with systemic symptoms, including hives, throat swelling, wheezing, dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a drop in blood pressure. These severe allergic reactions may develop quickly and can involve several body organs. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis and can be fatal.

Grass Allergies

Stinging insects of concern are found in three families:

Grass Allergies

• Vespids (Vespidae): Including yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps.
• Bees (Apidae): Honeybees are the most frequent offenders with bumblebees causing significantly fewer reactions. Sweatbees infrequently cause allergic reactions.
• Ants (Formicidae): Including fire ants and Harvester ants.

Grass Allergies

Yellow jackets are the most common stinging insects in our area. They primarily come out in the late summer and fall. Since these insects nest in the ground, gardening or mowing the grass can elicit a full-scale attack. They're often uninvited guests at outdoor picnics and may swarm around people wearing bright colors or perfumes. And of course, they'll often convene at one of their favorite hangouts-an overflowing trash can.

Hornets-the yellow jackets' close relation-nest in hedges, and are often compelled to defend their home when a hedge needs trimming.

Wasps live in honeycomb-like nests often under the overhangs of houses. Wasps tend to be nonaggressive, although they sting when disturbed. They do not leave a stinger in their victims, so they are able to sting repeatedly.

Honeybees are usually nonaggressive and only sting when their hive is threatened, or if they are struck or stepped on. Most bee stings occur in people who are barefoot while outdoors. Africanized honeybees (killer bees) are much more aggressive than domestic honeybeesand frequently attack people in swarms who approach their hive. Because their stingers are barbed, all honeybees will leave their stinger in the skin of their victim, limiting the honeybee to one sting. As the stinger is pulled out of the bee's body, the bee loses some of its internal organs and dies in the process.

Bumblebees are very large and scary to encounter, but they are not usually aggressive and rarely sting unless provoked. As they fly slowly and buzz loudly, they are easy to identify from a distance. Bumblebee stingers have no barbs and remain with the bee after stinging, allowing the bee to sting multiple times.

Insect Sting Allergy

Grass Allergies