Bees are generally known for two things: their honey and their stinger. A worker honeybee will typically hit between 50 and 100 flowers in single trip while collecting pollen and nectar for her hive. But if you ever had the misfortune of disturbing a bee while she hopped from flower to flower, then you probably became very acquainted with her stinger.
In North America, bees and fire ants, another stinging insect, are highly active in the summer. Below, Dr. Kathleen Sheerin, an allergist with the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic, and vice chair of the public education committee at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, discusses normal and allergic reactions to bees and fire ants, and what treatment is available.
What North American insects usually sting people?
Insects have been around for a long time, and some of them can cause life-threatening problems for people who are allergic to them. The class of insects that usually sting are called Hymenoptera, and it includes bees and ants. There are five members of that class that cause problems: the honeybee, the yellow jacket, the wasp, the hornet and fire ants, which don't fly.
How common are allergic reactions to insect stings?
The problem with stinging insects is they hurt when they sting, but for a small number of people in the country they can be deadly. Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic reaction, and the worst case scenario it can lead to death.
Copyright 2009 NBC Health
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