Our expert doctors can help you manage your bee sting allergies and reduce the risk of a life-threatening reaction
For most people, getting stung by a bee is nothing more than a mildly painful annoyance. However, if you are one of the roughly two million Americans who is allergic to bee venom, you could experience longer-lasting pain, redness, or swelling at the site of the sting, along with symptoms like hives, severe itching, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, or even anaphylactic shock.
When to See a Doctor
In individuals who are allergic to bee stings, the severity of the allergic reaction can increase by up to 60 percent with each successive sting. Therefore, if you or your child has been stung by a bee and exhibited any sign of an allergic reaction, it is a good idea to see a doctor. At Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Medical Group, we can help prevent the allergic reactions from worsening to the point where you are at risk of losing your life to bee venom-induced anaphylactic shock, as happens to about 100 people in the US each year.
Treating Bee Sting Allergies
If you suffer from a bee sting allergy, we can provide an epinephrine prescription that may just save your life the next time you are stung. Epinephrine can be taken in the event of anaphylactic shock to dilate your airways and prevent asphyxiation. We also recommend wearing a medical alert bracelet. Of course, avoiding bees, yellow jackets, hornets, etc. will also help protect against allergic reactions to their stings. We can provide recommendations on how to steer clear of these insects and stay out of harm’s way.
If you want more protection, we can provide bee venom immunotherapy to permanently reduce your risk of a future severe allergic reaction. Often, people suffering from asthma or another significant health complication in addition to bee sting allergies choose this route. Our expert doctors will provide a course of weekly injections of increasing amounts of bee venom to help your body build up a tolerance against it. This therapy has been proven to reduce the risk of a future allergic episode from 60 percent to as little as 5 percent.
Ready to protect yourself or your child from bee stings? Please contact us today to set up an appointment at one of our conveniently located medical offices.
