Allergies to Insect Stings

Home Treatment

Knowing which insect venom triggers your allergies and avoiding those insects is the best way to avoid allergic reactions to the stings. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to avoid insects, especially if you spend time outdoors.

Home treatment for allergic reactions to insect stings usually includes:

• Avoiding or preventing exposure to stinging insects, such as not using scented lotions or perfume, not wearing brightly coloured clothing, and not going barefoot when you are outdoors.
• Learning what types of stinging insects you are allergic to, including how to identify them and where they live, so you can better avoid them.
• Carrying an allergy kit containing emergency medications you can use if stung. Make sure you keep the supplies fresh and know how and when to properly use them. You need to have an allergy kit with you at all times. Check your kit regularly and replace medications that have passed the expiration dates. Allergy kits with doses appropriate for children are available. Children at risk of severe allergic reactions should keep kits at school or daycare as well as at home.
• Wearing a medical alert bracelet or medallion that lists your insect sting allergies, to alert emergency response workers if you have a severe allergic reaction. Medical alert jewellery can be ordered through most pharmacies or on the Internet.

Educate yourself and others

• If you or your child is allergic to insect stings, know what those particular insects look like and where they live.
• Make sure that all caregivers—such as school administrators, teachers, friends, and coaches—and co-workers know about the insect sting allergy, know what the symptoms look like during an allergic reaction, know where the allergy kit is kept and how to give the epinephrine injection, and have a plan to transport you or your child to the hospital.
• Teach older, mature children how to give self-injections.

What to do if you are stung

• Move away from the stinging insect and leave the area immediately—there may be a nest nearby.
• Remain as calm and quiet as possible. Movement will increase the spread of venom in the bloodstream.
• Remove the stinger from your skin immediately (see how to remove a stinger). It may be best to scrape or flick the stinger off your skin—squeezing or gripping the stinger to pull it out may inject more venom into your wound.
• Lower your arm or leg (if you have been stung in a limb) to slow the spread of venom. If the limb later becomes swollen, you can try elevating the affected leg or arm.

For normal, local sting reactions and large local allergic reactions, try:

• Using a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling. Elevating the affected part of the body may also help reduce swelling.
• Taking a non-prescription pain reliever (analgesic) for pain, such as ASA (Aspirin) or acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol). Do not give ASA to anyone younger than age 20, unless it is prescribed by a doctor, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
• Taking an antihistamine to help reduce your symptoms. Read and follow any warnings on the label.

Emergency care for a severe allergic reaction

Any systemic reaction (anaphylaxis) to an insect sting should be considered a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction—such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, swelling of your tongue or throat, or abdominal cramps—call911or other emergency services immediately.

If your doctor has prescribed an allergy kit, use the kit if:

• You have been taught how and when to use it.
• Your symptoms are severe.
• You have a kit immediately available.
• You have had a severe reaction in the past from a sting from the same type of insect, and similar symptoms are developing.

Antihistamines can help reduce your symptoms. But antihistamines may not be strong enough for severe reactions. Even though it can be scary to give yourself an epinephrine shot, it may be the only way to stop a severe reaction.

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Author:	Colleen Cronin Carrie Henley	Last Updated: March 31, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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