Taking the Sting Out of Summer: National Jewish Medical and Research Center Physician Warns Bee, Wasp, Hornet and Fire Ant Season Fast Approaching

March 26, 1997 CONTACT: Jordan Gruener

(303) 398-1002

Taking the Sting Out of Summer: National Jewish Medical and Research Center Physician Warns Bee, Wasp, Hornet and Fire Ant Season Fast Approaching

DENVER-Throughout the United States, insects of different shapes and sizes are preparing for a summertime assault. In milder climates like the Northwest and South, bees, wasps, hornets and fire ants already may be out in force. In the East and Midwest, start looking for these insects in April. Elderly people, in general, have more severe reactions to insect stings because of cardiac complications. Young adults and children are more vulnerable because they may spend more time outside playing and working. "The mortality is greater in older people, but stinging occurs more frequently in younger people," says Richard Weber, M.D., a National Jewish Medical and Research Center allergist.

Insect stings can cause localized pain and swelling, and, in rare cases, death. Normally, people with insect stings suffer from pain and redness at the sting site for about 24 hours. For people with high sensitivity to insect stings, lung spasms and a life-threatening drop in blood pressure can occur. No particular type of bee, hornet or wasp sting is more likely to cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, than another.

Allergists can treat insect allergies using a series of shots containing purified insect venom or "whole-body extracts" (the entire insect is ground up and liquefied). "Whole-body extracts work well for fire ant sensitivity, but do not work for winged insects such as bees, wasps or hornets," Dr. Weber says. "The treatment of choice for these insects is purified venom."

Desensitization consists of purified insect venom injections given regularly over several months, with treatment lessening to once a month or once every six weeks. This regimen lasts for 3-5 years. The result is a built-up immunity to insect stings, which protects the patient for at least 5 years and probably longer. "This process has 95-98 percent success rate of protecting you from a bad reaction," Dr. Weber says. "You can always carry an adrenaline shot, but if you're out in the middle of nowhere you can be in trouble."

For more information on insect allergies, call LUNG LINE"š, (800) 222-LUNG.