Many people suffer from wasp venom allergy by showing violent reactions as a result of a simple wasp sting. What exactly is a wasp venom allergy? What are their causes? And how can a wasp venom allergy be successfully treated?
What is wasp venom allergy?
Wasp venom allergy is an allergic reaction to a wasp sting that can have life-threatening effects. Normally, a wasp sting causes a short-lasting pain, the sting site reddens and swells slightly. For cd meanings, please visit whicheverhealth.com.
However, people who suffer from a wasp venom allergy react much more sensitively. As a result of the sting, they develop skin rashes, sweating, dizziness, nausea and tachycardia. In the worst case, an anaphylactic shock occurs, which can lead to respiratory failure. A wasp venom allergy is often only diagnosed after the second sting.
If a child or an adult shows severe symptoms after a wasp sting, a doctor should be consulted in any case to take therapeutic measures against the wasp venom allergy.
Causes
The trigger of the wasp venom allergy is the venom of the wasp. This venom contains certain proteins against which people who suffer from a wasp venom allergy form special antibodies.
This happens after the first wasp sting. However, an allergic reaction of the body occurs only after the second sting. Re-contact with the venom triggers a strong immune response and hypersensitivity, which are reflected in the symptoms typical of wasp venom allergy.
The patient sweats profusely, feels dizzy and nauseous, his heart is racing and the skin reacts by forming a rash. This exaggerated defense reaction is triggered by the body’s own messenger histamine, which is released in far too large quantities as a result of the wasp venom allergy.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
The symptoms that appear after a wasp sting can vary greatly, depending on how severe the allergy is in a patient. After a wasp sting, local skin reactions usually occur first. Edema usually develops at the puncture site, which causes the skin to swell. The swelling is almost always accompanied by skin redness and itching.
The itching can take on proportions that are extremely stressful for the patient. The constant scratching usually aggravates the two primary symptoms, i.e. swelling and reddening of the skin. However, these side effects occur in many people after a wasp sting and therefore do not indicate an allergy to the wasp venom.
In sensitive patients, there are additional symptoms. There is often burning pain in the area of the puncture site. People with allergies often experience nausea and vomiting after the sting. However, a patient is only in danger of death if symptoms appear that indicate a severe allergy.
These include, in particular, shortness of breath, dizziness and acute states of anxiety. These symptoms are often the first signs of anaphylactic shock. In this case, a circulatory collapse must be expected, which can lead to the death of the patient.
Diagnosis & History
If a wasp stings a person who is allergic to wasp venom, the swelling will be much larger than would normally be the case. In the case of a wasp venom allergy, the swelling is about ten centimeters in diameter and does not subside after a few hours, but sometimes lasts for a day or two.
If these symptoms persist, one speaks of a mild wasp venom allergy. A moderately severe wasp venom allergy causes reddening of the skin and wheal formation, eyelids and lips also swell, gastrointestinal cramps occur, which often leads to diarrhea and vomiting. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor. A severe wasp venom allergy is present when there are severe breathing and circulatory problems, shortness of breath and tachycardia and the patient’s blood pressure drops rapidly.
This situation can be life-threatening, since a so-called anaphylactic shock is possible, which can lead to unconsciousness or even cardiac arrest. Immediate help from an ambulance is required here. If you have not previously been diagnosed with wasp venom allergy for any of these three types of reactions, it is important that the following questions are answered for accurate diagnosis.
Did the sting actually come from a wasp or could it also be a bee or hornet? How long after the sting did the allergic reaction show up? How exactly were the complaints expressed? Is this the first time such a reaction has occurred after a wasp sting? In order to clearly confirm the diagnosis of wasp venom allergy, additional skin tests and, if necessary, a blood test are carried out in the clinic or by the doctor.
Complications
A wasp venom allergy mainly leads to complications if the person affected not only has a severe local reaction to the sting, but the wasp sting affects the entire body. The most serious complication associated with wasp venom allergy is possible anaphylactic shock. It effectively leads to circulatory failure and organ failure and, without emergency medical care, means the death of the person concerned.
Although anaphylactic shock can be treated in the hospital, secondary damage is possible. A very slight wasp venom allergy, which manifests itself primarily in the development of a large swelling, does not lead to any complications. The swelling will heal within a few days at the latest.
A moderate form of wasp venom allergy, which still causes severe pain, wheals, swelling of the face or stomach and intestinal problems, can lead to complications if the reactions are very severe. This means the need for treatment. Above all, the puncture site is relevant: the mouth area is much more susceptible than, for example, the thigh.
Furthermore, the symptoms of an allergic reaction itself can lead to complications – such as falls due to fainting, or scratched and inflamed skin due to itchy redness.
When should you go to the doctor?
If swelling occurs after a wasp sting, an attempt should be made to remove the venom injected by the insect bite from under the skin. Vacuuming the wound can help minimize pain or swelling. In addition, the region must be cooled so that the symptoms can be alleviated. If the affected person experiences an improvement in their health within the next hour, no doctor is needed.
On the other hand, consultation with a doctor should be initiated as soon as possible if the state of health of the person concerned shows a significant deterioration within a few minutes. If there is severe swelling from the insect bite, acute discomfort and changes in the skin, this is considered to be a cause for concern. Impairment of breathing activity requires acute action. In the event of shortness of breath, an emergency service must be alerted. In addition, first aid measures must be provided by those present.
Heart rhythm disturbances, sweating and cramps indicate an allergic reaction. The nearest hospital should be consulted immediately. Itching, reddening of the skin, nausea, dizziness and vomiting are other signs that a doctor should be called for help with. Since anaphylactic shock can occur in particularly severe cases, a comprehensive reaction must be taken as quickly as possible in the event of a wasp sting. Otherwise, there is a risk of the person concerned dying prematurely.
Treatment & Therapy
Patients who know that they are suffering from a wasp venom allergy should always carry an emergency kit with them, especially in late summer. Such a set contains a certain antihistamine, as well as cortisone and adrenaline.
If, despite great caution, which people with wasp venom allergies should always exercise, a sting occurs, this emergency set is suitable for first aid measures. One treatment option for wasp venom allergy is hyposensitization. The body gradually gets used to the wasp venom by repeatedly being confronted with small, increasing amounts of the venom during the treatment period. This creates immunity to the wasp venom.
Hyposensitization has proven to be a successful therapy and works in almost every patient suffering from a wasp venom allergy. The treatment lasts three to five years, but is usually completed with the result that the patient is completely cured of the wasp venom allergy. In addition, there is the possibility of rapid hyposensitization, which only takes a few weeks.
This method is only recommended if there is a particularly high risk of allergies, since the therapy itself is associated with an increased risk, which necessitates an inpatient stay during the treatment period. Rapid hyposensitization also relieves almost everyone affected of their wasp venom allergy.
Prevention
If you know that a wasp venom allergy is present and the therapy has not yet been completed, it is important to avoid the wasps as much as possible.
Wasps are very active especially in late summer, so allergy sufferers should be very careful when eating and drinking outdoors at this time, because wasps are particularly attracted to sweet drinks and grilled meat. Overflowing rubbish bins, for example at rest areas or in swimming pools, should also be avoided as wasps like to hang out here. If you want to keep a wasp away, lemon slices studded with cloves are a proven household remedy.
Wasps find this smell repulsive. So that you are also protected from possible stings in the house, it is recommended for people who suffer from a wasp venom allergy to attach insect nets to the windows in summer.
Aftercare
In the case of a wasp venom allergy, those affected usually only have very limited measures or options for aftercare. The disease itself cannot be completely cured and is usually congenital. Therefore, a wasp sting should be avoided as far as possible, so that there are no complications or other complaints for the person concerned.
If a sting should occur, action must be taken quickly. The person affected must take some medication that can relieve and limit the symptoms. All doctor’s instructions must be followed to avoid side effects. In some cases, the wasp venom allergy can also be relieved. It is also recommended that the person concerned always carries an emergency kit with them so that they can be treated immediately in the event of a sting.
If such a set is not available, an ambulance should be called immediately or the hospital should be visited. Wasp venom allergy does not usually reduce the life expectancy of the person affected if a possible sting is treated immediately. In summer, eating and drinking outdoors should be avoided in order not to attract the wasps. Further aftercare measures are not available to those affected by the wasp venom allergy.
You can do that yourself
Basically, it is important to avoid wasps as much as possible. Since wasps are particularly active in late summer, allergy sufferers should be very careful when eating and drinking outside – wasps are particularly attracted to sweet drinks and grilled meat. A wide berth should also be avoided around overfilled waste baskets, such as those found at rest stops or in swimming pools.
In order to keep wasps away, a tried and tested household remedy should be used – lemon slices studded with cloves. Wasps find this smell repulsive. In order to be adequately protected in the house as well, it is recommended for people who suffer from a wasp venom allergy to attach insect nets to the windows in the warm season.
People who know that they suffer from a wasp sting allergy should not leave the house without an emergency kit, especially in late summer. Such a set contains not only a specific antihistamine, but also cortisone and adrenaline. If, despite absolute caution, a wasp sting occurs, this emergency set should be used and should be sufficient for first aid measures. Of course, it is important that those affected familiarize themselves with the medication beforehand so that they can use it immediately in an emergency.
