An Ounce of Prevention
Avoiding insect attacks is far better than dealing with a sting. Since bees and wasps are attracted by bright colours and sweet, fruity or flowery aromas, wearing colourful clothing and/or using perfume or perfumed lotions is not a good idea. Fruit or flower-scented shampoos also act as attractants. Since bees see in the ultraviolet light range, clothes that light up under black light are especially interesting to them. If you are planning a summer outing that involves food, and you (or your child) are allergic to insect stings, you may want to view your clothing under black light. If it glows, it is best put back in the closet.

If you are having a picnic or barbecue, be aware of the food items that attract bees and wasps. Sweet barbecue sauces, jams and jellies, popsicles and flavoured drinks have particular appeal for stinging insects. Opened cans of soda can be especially hazardous. Bees and wasps often enter the opened can when no one is watching, and sting in panic if disturbed. Many people have been stung on the lips or inside the mouth after disturbing a hiding bee. (Stings inside of the mouth or throat are extremely dangerous as they can cause severe swelling.)

If you know you are going to be in an area where bees or wasps are prevalent, be sure to wear shoes (not sandals, and never barefoot), long pants and a hat. Since animals often steal honey, being close to fur (or human hair) makes bees particularly alert and protective. Wearing a hat will minimize the risk of a sting to the head or face.

If an Insect Lands...
Bees and wasps are generally not aggressive creatures. Like you, they are interested in good food, and will sting only in self-defence. (A bee dies after it has stung, and nature has wired bees not to be aggressive for this very reason. However, any insect will defend itself or its community if provoked.) The single most frightening thing to a bee or wasp is sudden movement, either from something it has landed on, or something in its immediate vicinity. If a stinging insect lands on you, don’t panic. Stay calm and try gently blowing on the insect to encourage it to fly away. Teach your children to “play statue” if a bee or wasp makes a landing. Above all, avoid flapping your arms around, a motion that bees and wasps find profoundly threatening. If a stinging insect comes close to you, back off slowly. Teach your little ones to do the same.

Nowhere is more frightening to find yourself in the sudden company of a stinging insect than in a car. This is particularly true if you are driving. If you find yourself in this situation, it is wise to remember that hardly anyone is stung by a bee or wasp while driving, and that the insect itself is just as keen to get out of the car as you are to see it do so. Trapped insects will tend to fly towards the windows of the car, not towards you, so pull over as soon as you can safely do so, open a window or two and watch your unwanted hitchhiker fly away.

Insect Venom Allergy
Insect venom allergy is a severe reaction to insect bites or stings that occurs in people with an abnormally high sensitivity to insect venom. The condition usually does not develop following the first exposure to the insect venom, but occurs on the second or subsequent exposures and continues indefinitely.

Severe Reactions
Although anyone can experience an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting, a small number of people with insect venom allergies can develop life-threatening symptoms. These usually include difficulty breathing, weakness and loss of consciousness. Such an allergic reaction is known as anaphylactic shock, and can be fatal if medical assistance is not immediately sought.

The most serious allergic reactions to insect venom are caused by stinging insects, including bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets. Bites or stings from other insects usually do not give rise to severe allergies.

Symptoms to Watch For
Symptoms of insect venom allergy usually begin within 15 to 30 minutes. The first symptom is often itchiness, which can affect all or any part of the skin, the eyes and the nose. As symptoms of the allergy progress, the affected person begins to sneeze, cough and wheeze, feels congested, and develops hives or swelling. If these symptoms are apparent, immediately seek medical help, as they may quickly progress to anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylactic shock is normally treated with an injection of epinephrine. This hormone stimulates the heart and relaxes the airways. This may be combined with an injection of an antihistamine, to counteract the histamine produced by the body’s immune cells during an allergic reaction.

Your Pharmacist Says:
People who are known to have severe insect venom allergies should carry a self-injection kit, including antihistamine tablets, for emergency treatment. The Epipen auto-injector is available without a precription from your London Drugs pharmacy. Emergency medical care should always be sought after any type of reaction to an insect bite or sting.

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