bee allergies

saw this article posted on David Heaf's e-mail list: bee stings: immunology, allergy, and treatment. as someone whose sensitivity to stings has increased over the years, I've been on the lookout for information like this.

I found it interesting too . I wonder because I have an allergy to snake venom if I then have an allergy to bees too .

David

Good document, thanks...

I have large locals to both bee venom and fire ants (discovered that one while holidaying in Malaysia - it took months to go down fully and made it impossible to site comfortably!). I have also had a single anaphalaxis to a bee sting which needed hospitalisation.

Desensitisation has worked for me, although my large local reactions are still pretty impressive. My beekeeping clothing could probably stop bullets now, I wear so many layers.

Michael Cox wrote:Desensitisation has worked for me, although my large local reactions are still pretty impressive. My beekeeping clothing could probably stop bullets now, I wear so many layers.

how long was your treatment? I've just had a test and confirmed my suspicion that what I experienced was a systemic reaction to bee stings. I'm willing to live with the risk, but I'm getting a lot of pressure from several corners to start a desensitization program. at $1900 for the first four visits, then $90/visit every four to six weeks for five years, I'm a bit reticent. the price tag on the epi-pen was a bit shocking, even with the $100 coupon I got.

maybe I could take a nice vacation to someplace with more reasonable health care costs...

Spread over 18 months back when I was at Uni.

The NHS is great.