Stinging Insect Allergies

Relief from Allergic Reactions to Insect Stings

Do you suffer from a stinging insect allergy? If you have a history of a bad reaction to a bee sting, it is possible for your next reaction to be even worse and this is a preventable event with venom immunotherapy.

The most serious allergic reactions are caused by five types of stinging insects:

• Fire ants – found mostly in warmer climates
• Honeybees – live in honeycombs
• Hornets – usually found in trees
• Wasps – live in circular combs in shrubs or under the edges of a roof
• Yellow jackets – nests are underground or inside building walls

Make sure you and your family are protected against insect sting allergies by contacting the allergy professionals at Oak Brook Allergists in northeast Illinois today.

The Dangers of Insect Stings

The next
sting
may be
far worse

The venom injected into the body when you are stung by an insect, such as a bee, wasp, or fire ant, causes redness, swelling, and itchiness at the site of the sting.

However, for patients with allergies to these insects, the venom can cause a severe, life-threatening reaction. An allergic reaction to an insect sting may involve your whole body and can start very rapidly after you are stung.

Allergy symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Hives
• Itching
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Weakness
• Wheezing

A more severe allergic reaction can lead to shortness of breath, a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even death if emergency treatment is not immediately administered.

Testing & Treatment of Stinging Insect Allergies

If you suspect an allergy to stinging insects, allergy testing can be begun on your very first visit at one of our four convenient locations.

Once you are diagnosed, the board-certified allergists at Oak Brook Allergists will work with you on how to avoid being stung in the first place, as well as provide you with an emergency adrenaline kit that can save your life in the event of a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Allergy shots (venom immunotherapy) has proven to be very effective at preventing severe allergic responses. This therapy gradually exposes your body to minute quantities of the venom in order to desensitize it to the allergen. The result is a significantly less severe reaction should you get stung in the future – or it may prevent an allergic response altogether.

Contact the allergy experts at Oak Brook Allergists in northeast Illinois to make sure you and your loved ones are protected against stinging insect allergies. Call (630) 574-0460 or request your appointment now.