Gentowa

The very important fact relates to the information about the previous bites and their clinical consequences (local reaction – global reaction, its therapy duration, way and effect). If it is possible, the identification of the insect (e.g. wasp, bee) will be suitable, as well. You can be allergic to one or more insect species.

The allergy reaction initiator determination is important for the therapy, but also for the prevention and avoidance of further episodes.

If you do not know the name of the insect, the identification can be helped by following facts:

● how did it look like? the colour, pattern

● where was it found? (trees, grass, ground)

● how did it behave? (was it provoked into biting; was it aggressive)

● did it leave the sting in the affected spot?

The professional diagnosis is made with the help of the skin tests with the toxin of the particular suspicious insect (commercially prepared). According to the severe reactions danger many various concentrations are gradually used.

If the skin tests are not persuasive, the laboratory examination, where all IgE type antibodies against the insect species toxins (as far as we are concerned it goes for bees and wasps) are determined, will be made.

Biting insects (for example mosquitoes) secretions cause the local reactions as swelling and itching, although severe reactions happen only from time to time.

The biting insects comprise one of the most common causes of large or even global reactions.

All biting insects belong to the Hymenoptera species. We include bees, wasps and ants to this group.

The majority of the people react with bigger or small swelling of the area, where the stringer goes through the skin. In case of the multiple stings i.e. children bitten up to 50 times, even the global toxic reaction can be initiated as a result of the toxin effect.

That can not be applied to the allergy sufferers. After the venom follicle content, which is situated near the stinger, releases the toxins, the allergic reaction starts. This reaction is as serious as often the patient was bitten and hence sensitised.

The toxin structure of the Hymenoptera species is well analysed. The allergen is formed by a complicated mixture. It is interesting that bees, wasps and ants have one part of the toxin similar in the structure and another different. It means that the patient, who suffers an allergy to bee toxin can, but does not have to be allergic to wasp toxin and vice versa