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What Is a Bee or Wasp Sting Allergy?

For most people, the venom from a bee or wasp sting causes little more than local swelling, pain, and redness, which usually go away within several hours. Some people, however, are allergic to elements in the venom and have more severe reactions, which can range from extended swelling to potentially deadly anaphylactic shock.

The process of sting-induced allergies is poorly understood. Like other allergies, being allergic to stings appears to run in families. But scientists still don't understand why only 60% of allergic adults and 8% of allergic children suffer shock when they are stung.

A person may be stung many times during his lifetime — and have only normal reactions — then suddenly one sting will produce a strong allergic reaction. Doctors are not sure why a person develops such a sensitivity or why the sensitivity may last fewer than three months or more than 25 years.

Allergic reactions may produce extensive swelling. For about 3% of people, however, a sting can trigger anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Painful hives and swelling may progress rapidly to block off airways, causing circulatory collapse and, sometimes, death. In the United States, about 50 people die each year from sting-induced anaphylactic shock, primarily people over 40 with pre-existing heart disease. If you are stung by a swarm of 50 to 100 bees, the effect can be similar to that of anaphylactic shock.