| I was stung on the arm by a yellow jacket and had redness and swelling around the area. Am I allergic to yellow jackets? | |
|
Your description sounds like a normal local reaction to the venomous toxins released into the body by the insect at the time of the sting. A localized reaction of pain, swelling, and redness lasting for hours can follow a sting.
Stinging insect "allergy" is an immune response which causes a systemic (whole body) reaction. Swelling extending over a large area of the body or systemic symptoms such as itching, hives, shortness of breath, loss of blood pressure, fainting, or anaphylaxis often associated with a feeling of impending doom all indicate a systemic allergic reaction to the insect sting that can be life-threatening. An allergist should evaluate (skin test), establish a management plan (including self-injectable Adrenalin®, which can be life-saving), and provide desensitizing treatment (allergy shots) for any individual having even a mild systemic allergic reaction to an insect sting. A mild systemic allergic reaction can become life-threatening on subsequent stings. |
|
