Insect stings

For people who are allergic to insect stings, dangerous, life-threatening reactions to insect bites occur throughout the body, usually within five minutes to 20 minutes after being stung.

Symptoms

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical assistance immediately: hives, intense itching or swelling on parts of the body other than where stung shortness of breath wheezing swelling of the throat that causes difficulty swallowing stomach cramping weakness, dizziness, fainting (low blood pressure) anaphylaxis

Prevention

People who have had a serious reaction to a sting can follow the steps below to prevent a serious reaction in the future.

• Carry self-injectable epinephrine (also called adrenaline) at all times. Your doctor can prescribe an EpiPen® and show you how to use it.
• Carry a card or wear a bracelet that alerts others to the condition.
• Ask your allergist if venom immunotherapy injections will help you. Venom immunotherapy is a series of venom injections that provide a high level of protection against future insect sting reactions.