Would this be an allergic reaction to a bee sting?

[Laurie4b]

The kiddos just returned home after being away for 10 days. In recounting their adventures, ds 15 said he got stung by a yellow jacket and that a red area swelled up about 4-5 inches in diameter. He had no trouble breathing or anything.

 

I'm wondering if that was a beginning allergic reaction, though he says that he gets red swelling the size of a quarter in reaction to mosquito bites, so maybe his body just has a strong reaction to insect bites in general. I know that once you have an allergic reaction, it can progress subsequently to severe allergic reaction. Anyone have any experience with bee stings progressing to the point of a severe allergic reaction?

[Jennifer in MI]

I have a ds who gets REALLY bad reactions to stings, yet is not allergic. He was stung a couple weeks ago four times (he found a nest) and had HUGE swelling. He has food allergies, so I was VERY nervous and took him to the ER where we just sat with him. The swelling subsided. Then, he was stung again last weekend and it swelled something terrible! Again, it never affected his breathing.

 

I pray he's just not allergic to bee/wasp stings!! But, I'm glad to have the epi-pen just in case!

[Jean in Newcastle]

Stings can get infected with a sort of cellulitis. This is what this sounds like. I use tea-tree oil on them and it works very well to take care of the infection.

[Old Dominion Heather]

Probably not. My husband's whole limb swells when he gets stung, but his doctor told him that it isn't dangerous unless your breathing is affected. I will say that if you ever have THAT type of reaction, you will know it! I'm allergic to Latex and my mild reactions progressed to full-blown anaphylaxis at a birthday party.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

It is worth checking it out with an allergist since a bee/wasp sting could give a minor reaction the first time and an anaphylactic one the next time:( It is unpredictable from what I understand.

 

My ds is allergic to mosquito bites:001_huh: His allergist recommended taking zyrtec 10 mg daily when being exposed to mosquito bites. He did say that it is possible to get anaphylaxis from mosquito bites as well but that it is rare thank goodness.

 

 

http://www.foodallergy.org/

[Unicorn.]

Dh and I react the same way to yellow jacket stings. I once ended up on crutches from a yellow jacket sting on the ankle. I don't think it's an allergy, just something about yellow jackets.