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The Dangers that are Part of the Bee Sting Allergy |
 One of the signs that spring is here is seeing the bees, butterflies and the other many flying bugs begin to fill the air as nature begins to bloom again. For most people, the sight of a bee going from flower to flower is just another sign of spring. Sure, we all are careful around bees, wasps or any flying bug that can sting us because stings are painful for anyone. But for someone who h as a bee sting allergy, those bugs are more than just mildly scary but still beautiful parts of nature. For someone who has to avoid bees because of a potential allergic reaction to a sting, a simple bee represents a serious danger to your life.
If your bee sting allergy has made you nervous around any kind of stinging insect, that is probably good. That is because the bee sting allergy is not just set off by the sting of a honey bee or one species of stinging bug. It is not the specific species of bee that is the problem that can be so dangerous when you have a bee sting allergy. It is the venom that the bee injects into the sting that can be such a dangerous toxin to someone who has this specific allergy problem.
For most people, a bee sting is painful at the time it happens and the shock of being attacked by an insect is upsetting. After the sting, most people get a welt that may swell up a bit and hurt for a day or two. But that is the extent of the injury from even the most unpleasant bee sting episode.
If you are dealing with a bee sting allergy in your life, from that moment the bee penetrates your skin, the acceleration of potentially life threatening bee sting allergy symptoms can move quite quickly. It isn't the venom that causes the body to react with such violence. As is true of any allergy, it is the reaction of the immune system to the presence of the venom in that sting that can throw a bee sing allergy sufferer into a condition known as anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock results from an extreme bee sting allergy reaction that causes the throat to swell up and close which can result in cutting off air to the bee sing allergy sufferer.
Other reactions of a bee sting allergy that add to the danger of anaphylactic shock include a loss of consciousness, a very fast heart rate, low blood pressure, confusion and dizziness that make it very difficult to for someone who is going into anaphylactic shock to know how to take action to save his or her own life. The most important thing that must happen just as soon as someone who has a bee sting allergy begins to react is to get him or her to an emergency room as fast as possible. Calling 911 is entirely appropriate because every minute that goes by can bring the bee sting allergy sufferer closer to death.
If you know you are susceptible to a bee sting allergy, there are preventive measures you can take to equip yourself to respond in the event of a life threatening bee sting allergy emergency. Your doctor can prescribe a customized shot that you can carry with you that has enough medication in it to postpone anaphylactic shock until you can get to the hospital. This kit is called an Epi Pen and it is something you should have with you at all times. You should also educate your family members, friends or people in authority such as teachers or other caregivers so that someone is on hand at all times that is aware of your bee sting allergy and can act quickly to administer the Epi pen treatment and then get you to the hospital quickly.
Along with these precautions, every effort must be made to avoid being around stinging insects. That means if there is a bee or wasp hive near your home, call an exterminator and have it removed. It might also mean missing out on some of the fun of summer such as camp outs, baseball games or walks in the country. But compared to the dire and dangerous situation you would be in if your bee sting allergy is triggered, those sacrifices are worth it to keep you safe.
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